A.N. Pritzker's 500-Bagger

It was actually a 468-bagger but that doesn't roll off the tongue.

In December 1942, Abram Nicholas (A.N.) Pritzker – son of Nicholas – and James W. Alsdorf paid $25,000 each (plus a promissory note and royalty agreement) to acquire Cory Glass Coffee Brewer Company.

Twenty five years later, The Hershey Company acquired Cory for $26.3 million cash – earning the Pritzkers a 27.9% compound average growth rate excluding salaries and distributions for their share.

The internal rate of return exceeded 300% – having been paid back 75x their investment in less than the first five years.

Investment Summary (Pritzker's share):

• Capital invested: $25,000
• Holding period: 25 years
• Sale: $11.7 million ($113 million in 2025 dollars)
• Return: 468x (excluding salaries and distributions) | ~27.9% CAGR