By 1893 he was a successful businessman in Chicago and earned his first fortune when he obtained a concession to sell soda water soft drinks at the World’s Columbian Exposition.

[3][full citation needed] Nusbaum asked his brother-in-law if he would be willing to buy a quarter of Sears Roebuck for $37,500.00.

[8] He was succeeded as Secretary by the Company’s outside lawyer, Albert Henry Loeb of Loeb & Adler (now known as Arnstein & Lehr, LLP) who had prepared the papers for Nusbaum’s departure and had also structured the original sale to Nusbaum and Rosenwald and the incorporation of Sears in Illinois.

Despite repeated attempts by his wife Gussie for reconciliation, Nusbaum never spoke again with his brother-in-law or sister.

[12] Upon his death in 1936, Nusbaum willed a million dollars to the Assistance Fund, Inc, a New York charitable organization.