37

Bruce Rauner

Age: 58

Occupation: GOP candidate for governor

Rauner’s spot on this list has reached its inevitable crossroads: If he wins the GOP primary and defeats Governor Quinn in November, he will serve as the political counterweight to Democrats Madigan and Emanuel. Should he lose, he may fall off the list altogether. Despite ads touting his thrifty nature, Rauner is pouring his considerable fortune (until 2012, he was chairman of the influential private equity firm GTCR) into the campaign. But some Republicans distrust his close ties to the mayor, and his recent stumbles over the minimum wage made frugal sound mean.