Jay Bergman

Jay Bergman is an American businessman and political donor.

Personal life and education Jay Bergman was born in and has lived his entire life in Joliet, Illinois. He is the son of a factory employee and school secretary. Bergman attended Joliet Junior College for two years, before graduating from Illinois State University in 1970 with a degree in business administration. Bergman is known as a generous donor to many charitable causes, usually preferring to make significant contributions without publicity or attribution. He and his wife did, however, contribute $782,000 to the Chicago-area Red Cross for construction of a blood storage center that will bear their name.

Career Bergman's career started in land development. In 1987, Bergman acquired oil wells in Southern Indiana, beginning his career in oil. Bergman's company, Petco Petroleum, owns oil and gas fields in 20 states. In 2013, Madigan filed a complaint against Petco, alleging that Petco is “the worst polluter in the field of Illinois oil production.”

Bergman has also invested in small banks.