Janet Crown‘s husband is Steve Robinson, a former Major League Baseball player turned craft beer brewer. While not coming from a wealthy background himself, Steve Robinson married into one of the richest families in America through his wife Janet Crown.
Janet Crown is a successful entrepreneur in her own right and member of Chicago‘s prominent Crown family, estimated to have a net worth surpassing $8 billion. As the founder of popular fitness studios Burn 60 and co-owner of Brewery X, Janet has leveraged the family empire to achieve her own business success.
So who exactly is Steve Robinson, Janet Crown‘s longtime husband? Here is an in-depth look at his background and partnership with his high-profile wife.
Steve Robinson‘s Baseball Career
Long before becoming known as Janet Crown‘s husband, Steve Robinson made a name for himself in professional baseball. After being drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1996, Robinson went on to play for the Giants, Chicago Cubs, and San Diego Padres over a 10-year MLB career spanning from 1999 to 2008.
As an outfielder and first baseman, some of Robinson‘s baseball career highlights include:
- Batting average of .226 with 35 home runs over 795 games
- Hitting over .300 in limited action during the 2005 season
- Playing in the 2002 World Series with the San Francisco Giants
- Earning approximately $7 million in salary over his pro baseball career
Though he did not become a huge MLB star, Robinson had a respectable decade-long career playing America‘s pastime at the highest level.
From Baseball to Craft Beer
After retiring from professional baseball in 2008, Steve Robinson moved into the craft beer industry. He gained experience working as head brewer at Brewery at Abby of the Desert in Southern California.
This allowed Robinson to perfect his craft beer recipes and skills. It prepared him to open the sprawling Brewery X anaheim location in 2018 alongside wife Janet Crown.
Brewery X has grown into a popular and successful local craft brewery under the co-ownership of Robinson and Crown. It allowed Robinson to parlay his baseball earnings into a thriving second career marrying his passions for beer and business.
Janet Crown‘s Entrepreneurial Success
Long before partnering with Steve Robinson on Brewery X, Janet Crown attained business success in her own right. As the seventh child of Chicago‘s powerful Crown family, she looked to branch out and establish her independence out west.
After moving to California in the early 2000s, Crown founded luxury fitness studio chain Burn 60. With a focus on group fitness classes and personal training, Burn 60 filled an upscale niche in the Southern California market.
Over 15 years, Crown grew Burn 60 to over 10 studio locations before selling the fitness chain in 2021. This entrepreneurial endeavor allowed Janet Crown to leverage the business acumen and backing of her wealthy family to achieve solo success.
The Vast Crown Family Fortune
Janet Crown‘s family is ranked among the richest in America, with an estimated net worth of over $8 billion according to Forbes. The Crown family empire reaches back over 100 years to material sciences company General Dynamics founded in the early 1900s by Janet‘s grandfather Henry Crown.
Here is a brief overview of the Crown family‘s holdings and wealth today:
- Ownership stake in General Dynamics worth $8.9 billion
- Partial ownership of JP Morgan Chase stock valued at $3 billion
- Stakes in the Chicago Bulls and New York Yankees worth combined $2.5 billion
- Aspen Skiing Company valued at $1.5 billion
- 10% ownership of Rockefeller Center estimated at $800 million
- Large equity holdings in industrial manufacturing companies
The Crown family has maintained its wealth by having each generation diversify the portfolio into new sectors while still expanding on the core real estate and manufacturing assets. For instance, Janet‘s father Lester Crown helped grow the family empire as Chairman of Henry Crown and Company for decades.
The Next Generation Rises
While Janet Crown looked west to blaze her own trail, her siblings James and Paula Crown have focused on business and philanthropy closer to their Chicago roots. Each of the three siblings manages a piece of the Crown family empire.
James Crown now serves as President of Henry Crown and Company in addition to sitting on boards for General Dynamics and JP Morgan. His sister Paula runs family investment firm Paula & Crown Philanthropies, overseeing millions in charitable contributions.
This next generation of Crowns have ensured their family‘s fortune will continue for decades to come. They have invested the wealth back into growing Chicago institutions like the Museum of Science and Industry.
Janet and Steve – Partners in Business and Philanthropy
Janet Crown and Steve Robinson have now been married for over two decades. While coming from vastly different backgrounds, they‘ve formed a successful partnership in business and family.
In a 2018 interview with Food & Beverage Magazine, Janet Crown shared this perspective on going into business with her husband through Brewery X:
“It’s wonderful to have a passionate partner in this business who I enjoy spending time with. We both love the creative process involved in building a brand and trying innovative recipes to stay on the cutting edge.”
The article goes on to explain how Steve handles more of the beer brewing and distro while Janet focuses on the branding, marketing, and taproom experience. Their complementary skillsets have been crucial to the ongoing growth of Brewery X.
Like the rest of the prominent Crown family, Janet and Steve have also made philanthropy and community service core parts of their identity. Some of the causes they actively support include:
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
- Aspen Institute
- Lincoln Park Zoo
- Chicago Cubs Charities
- Make-a-Wish Foundation
So while coming from very different upbringings – one a wealthy heiress, one a professional athlete – Janet Crown and husband Steve Robinson exemplify a partnership of shared passions, business acumen, and generosity.
Conclusion
Janet Crown‘s husband Steve Robinson achieved success in his own right as a Major League Baseball player before becoming co-owner of popular craft brewery Brewery X. Although not born into wealth like his spouse, Robinson‘s partnership with Crown allowed him to tap into her family‘s vast business resources and entrepreneurial spirit.
Crown‘s husband Steve Robinson represents one half of a power couple combining their respective expertise to grow thriving businesses. Together with Janet‘s siblings, they are actively shaping the Crown empire to thrive for generations to come through shrewd investments and community service.
This in-depth look at Steve Robinson‘s background and his marriage to Janet Crown provides perspective on the lesser known spouse of Chicago‘s royal family. While the Crown wealth stretches back over a century, each generation is focused on using that fortune to forge their own path and leave a positive mark on their communities.
