Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, won over $1.4 million gambling in Las Vegas last year, according to federal tax filings released by his campaign team. The governor, widely seen as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, made the money playing blackjack during a vacation with his wife and friends.
Pritzker's campaign spokesperson confirmed the winnings, and the governor plans to donate the money to charity. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Pritzker described the trip: 'I went on vacation with my wife, with some friends. I was incredibly lucky, you have to be to end up ahead, frankly, going to a casino anywhere.' He added that the $1.4 million was a net figure from a single trip.
Pritzker, who does not receive a salary as governor, has a personal net worth of approximately $3.7 billion, with his family's wealth estimated at $41.6 billion. Since taking office in 2019, he has placed his assets into a blind trust. His tax summaries show he earned over $10 million in adjusted gross income last year.
The Democratic governor has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump, particularly after the president called for Pritzker's jailing over opposition to federal troop deployments in Chicago. Pritzker is running for a third gubernatorial term next year and has not ruled out a presidential bid, stating: 'I don't know what the future holds… What I can tell you is I'm totally dedicated to upholding the rights of people in the state of Illinois.'
