James Crown, a billionaire JPMorgan board member who belonged to one of the US’ richest families, died in a racing crash on his 70th birthday

• Billionaire businessman James “Jim” Crown died in a racing crash in Aspen, Colorado on Sunday.
• Crown collided with an impact barrier in an accident, the coroner’s office told The Colorado Sun.
• Forbes ranked the Crown family as the US’ 34th richest in 2020 with an estimated wealth of $10.2 billion.

Billionaire businessman James “Jim” Crown died in a racing crash in Aspen, Colorado on Sunday, multiple news outlets reported.

Crown, the grandson of industrialist Henry Crown and theater and hotel magnate Junius Mayer Schine, collided with an impact barrier in an accident at the Aspen Motorsports Park, The Colorado Sun reported, citing the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office. “The official cause of death is pending autopsy although multiple blunt force trauma is evident,” the coroner’s office told the publication.

The Aspen Times reported that Sunday was his 70th birthday.

Forbes ranked the Crown family as the 34th richest in the US in 2020 with an estimated wealth of $10.2 billion, though none of the family members are individually listed on the Bloomberg Billionaire Index of the world’s 500 richest people.

Crown had served on JPMorgan’s board of directors since 2004. Jamie Dimon, the bank’s CEO, said in a note to staff that Crown had been a “trusted advisor” to him and had helped the company navigate through business and economic challenges.

Since 2018, Crown had served as chairman and CEO of his family’s investment firm Henry Crown and Company. He was the chairman emeritus of the Aspen Institute board of trustees and a managing partner of Aspen Skiing, as well as a board member at General Dynamics. Days before his death he attended a White House State Dinner when President Joe Biden hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Jim represented America at its best – industrious, big-hearted, and always looking out for each other,” Biden said in a statement. “He was a good man, a dear friend, and a great American.”

Crown largely split his time between Colorado and his hometown of Chicago. He was a trustee of both the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, and the University of Chicago.

“Jim gave back to the city through philanthropy and leadership on a number of civic and academic boards as he was deeply committed to investing in Chicago and its people,” Brandon Johnson, the city’s mayor, said. “With his generosity, Jim truly embodied the soul of Chicago.”

Crown was succeeded by his parents, wife, four children, and six grandchildren.

“The Crown family is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Jim Crown in an accident earlier today,” Aspen Skiing said in a statement, per The Colorado Sun. “The family requests that their privacy be respected at this difficult time. Further details regarding plans for a memorial to remember Jim’s remarkable life will be released at a later date.”