SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — It figures that a billionaire would win big in Las Vegas.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker reported a gambling windfall of $1.4 million on his federal tax return this week.
The two-term Democrat, often mentioned as a 2028 presidential candidate, told reporters in Chicago on Thursday that he drew charmed hands in blackjack during a vacation with first lady MK Pritzker and friends in Sin City.
“I was incredibly lucky,” he said. “You have to be to end up ahead, frankly, going to a casino anywhere.”
Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt hotel chain, has a net worth of $3.9 billion, ranked No. 382 on the Forbes 400 list of the nation’s richest people. A campaign spokesperson via email said he plans to donate the money to charity but did not clarify why he hadn’t done so already.
Intending to seek a third term in 2026, Pritzker previously was considered as a vice presidential running mate for Kamala Harris last year. Although he has deflected inquiries about any ambitions beyond Illinois, he actively supports fellow Democrats and causes, particularly efforts to protect access to abortion.
His profile has seen additional attention recently as he publicly condemns President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement in Chicago and Trump’s efforts to deploy National Guard troops there.
The Pritzkers reported earning $10.66 million in 2024, primarily through dividends and capital gains, and paid $1.6 million in taxes on a taxable income of $5.87 million.
Pritzker is also known as an avid card player, having organized a charitable Chicago Poker Challenge that raised millions for the Holocaust Museum and Education Center, and he described his Vegas windfall as a net number from both wins and losses during the trip. He did not disclose what his winning hand was.
“Anybody who’s played cards in a casino, you often play for too long and lose whatever it is you won,” Pritzker remarked. “I was fortunate enough to have to leave before that happened.”
