SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS– SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — It’s estimated the billionaire will win big in Las Vegas.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker reported a $1.4 million gambling windfall in his federal tax return this week.
The two-term Democrat, who is often cited as a 2028 presidential candidate, told reporters in Chicago on Thursday that he drew enchanting blackjack hands during a vacation with First Lady M.K. Pritzker and friends in Sin City.
“I was incredibly lucky,” he said. “You have to be to, frankly, end up going to a casino anywhere.”
Pritzker, heir to the Hyatt hotel chain, has a net worth of $3.9 billion and is ranked 382nd on the Forbes 400 list of the nation’s richest people. A campaign spokesman said via email that Pritzker planned to donate the money to charity but did not respond when asked why he had not already done so.
Pritzker, who plans to run for a third term in 2026, was under consideration as Kamala Harris’ running mate last year. He sidestepped questions about any ambition beyond the Illinois governor’s mansion. But he has used his personal fortune to fund other Democrats and related efforts, including a campaign to protect abortion access.
His profile got an extra boost this fall as he denounced President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement in Chicago and the president’s attempt to station National Guard troops there.
The Pritzkers reported income of $10.66 million in 2024, mostly from dividends and capital gains. They paid $1.6 million in taxes on taxable income of $5.87 million.
Pritzker is an avid card player, and the Chicago Charity Poker Challenge has raised millions of dollars for the Holocaust Museum and Education Center. He said the windfall in Vegas was a “pure number” considering the wins and losses on one trip. He declined to say what his winning hand was.
“Anyone who plays cards in a casino often plays too long and loses everything they win,” Pritzker said. “I was lucky enough that I had to leave before that happened.”
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Associated Press writer Sophia Tarin contributed from Chicago.