Comparison · 2 material differences
The California Club vs The Chicago Club
This comparison was generated on request from the records. It carries no editorial verdict and is not indexed. The published comparisons are listed on the compare page.
Read down each column for one organization, across a row for the difference. A bronze mark at the left of a cell means the organizations differ on that row. A dash or “not published” means the organization does not disclose the fact; it is not a zero.
What the records say
- Annual dues: The California Club: Not publicly disclosed; The Chicago Club: Not publicly disclosed. The only figure on record is historic: Wikipedia states that membership cost $100 when the club was founded in 1869.
Side by side
| The California Club | The Chicago Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | ||
| Type | Private club | Private club |
| Founded | 1888 (The club's own site says only that it has been "a Los Angeles icon for more than a century" and does not print a founding year; 1888 comes from Wikipedia's sourced article.) | 1869 (Wikipedia dates the founding to January 1869 by former members of the Dearborn Club, with Philip Wadsworth as first president and a first meeting on 1 May 1869; the club's own public site carries no history page.) |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, United States | Chicago, United States |
| Geographic footprint | Single clubhouse at 538 South Flower Street in downtown Los Angeles | Single clubhouse at 81 East Van Buren Street at Michigan Avenue, in the Loop |
| Members | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed by the club. Wikipedia gives approximately 1,200 members; that has not been independently verified and carries no current date. |
| Chapters | Single clubhouse; no chapters | Single clubhouse; no chapters |
| Primary audience | The club says its members "represent L.A.'s most diverse trailblazers and influencers, who are defining today's city and shaping its future", and describes itself as the city's premier private social club; it publishes no occupational or financial test. | Not publicly disclosed. The club's membership page consists of one sentence stating that membership is by invitation only, plus a contact for the Director of Membership. |
| Typical member | Not publicly disclosed. The club describes members in general terms as Los Angeles innovators and influencers and publishes no data on professions, ages or numbers. | Not publicly disclosed. Wikipedia records that charter members included Anson Stager, Robert Todd Lincoln, Potter Palmer, Marshall Field and George Pullman, but the club publishes nothing about its present membership. |
| Qualification | ||
| Invitation required | Yes | Yes |
| Sponsor required | Yes | Not documented |
| Application process | There is no public application process. The club states that membership is by invitation from current members and that the membership office is not open to the public. The site lists a membership email address but no form, criteria or timetable. | There is no public application route. The club states that membership is by invitation only and directs enquiries about membership requirements to its Director of Membership by email. |
| Selectivity | Not publicly disclosed. The club publishes no acceptance data, waiting-list information or member cap. | Not publicly disclosed |
| Cost | ||
| Annual dues | Not publicly disclosedverified September 2026 · source ↗ | Not publicly disclosed. The only figure on record is historic: Wikipedia states that membership cost $100 when the club was founded in 1869verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Initiation fee | Not publicly disclosedverified September 2026 · source ↗ | Not publicly disclosedverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Membership term | Not documented | Not documented |
| Structure | ||
| Meeting frequency | No published meeting schedule; the clubhouse operates on weekdays for breakfast, lunch, dinner and bar service, with signature and family events through the year | No published programme; the clubhouse operates for dining, meetings, events and accommodation |
| Peer forums | Not documented | Not documented |
| Confidentiality | Not publicly disclosed. The club publishes a technology policy rather than a confidentiality rule: electronics must be silent, and voice and video calls are confined to telephone alcoves and private meeting and dining rooms. | Cell phone use for voice communication is limited to phone booths, private meeting rooms and guest rooms; discreet non-verbal use such as texting and web browsing is permitted throughout the club. |
| Time commitment | Not documented | Not documented |
| Organized as | Clubhouse premises, Event-focused | Clubhouse premises, Event-focused |
| Confidential peer forums | No | No |
| Local chapters | No | No |
| Virtual membership | No | No |
| Online community | No | No |
| Member directory | Not documented | Not documented |
| Events | Yes | Yes |
| Programming | ||
| Educational programming | Not documented | Not documented |
| Leadership development | No | No |
| Retreats | No | No |
| Travel | Partial | Partial |
| Family programming | Yes | Not documented |
| Spouse and partner programming | Not documented | Not documented |
| Next-generation programming | Not documented | Not documented |
| Investment discussions | No | No |
| Investment opportunities | No | No |
| Philanthropic component | Not documented | Partial |
| Networking emphasis | Medium | Medium |
| Social emphasis | High | High |
Next
Last verified: not yet reviewed
Report an error on this page
Sources
Drawn from the sources listed on each page: The California Club · The Chicago Club