Illinois Governor JB Pritzker reported a $1.4 million gambling win on his tax return this week, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
The Democrat, often mentioned as a candidate for the 2028 presidential election, told reporters in Chicago that he had luck playing blackjack while vacationing with his wife and friends in Sin City (Las Vegas).
"I was incredibly lucky", he said. "Honestly, you have to be one to win when you go to a casino, anywhere."
Pritzker, the heir to the Hyatt hotel chain, has a net worth of $3.9 billion and ranks 382nd on the Forbes 400 list of the richest people in the country. A representative for him said in an email that Pritzker plans to donate the money to charity, but did not answer why he had not yet done so.
Pritzker, who is seeking a third term in 2026, was considered a running mate for Kamala Harris last year. He has brushed aside questions about his ambitions outside of the Illinois governor's mansion. But he has used his personal wealth to fund other Democrats and related initiatives, including a campaign to protect access to abortion.
His profile got a further boost this fall when he condemned President Donald Trump’s immigration policies in Chicago and the president’s attempt to deploy National Guard troops there.
The Pritzker family 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.