Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s 2024 vacation to Las Vegas was quite profitable according to his most recent tax filings. On Thursday, it was revealed that Pritzker won an estimated $1.4 million while playing blackjack last year.
“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. It was in Las Vegas, and I like to play cards,” Pritzker said during a press conference Thursday.
The governor didn’t expand on how he won the money, but did encourage other gamblers to visit the casinos in Illinois, even though his win came out of state. Pritzker’s campaign told NBC News that the governor plans on donating the money to charity, but it is unclear which charity or charities will benefit.
The gambling winnings are part of an adjusted gross income of almost $10.7 million reported by Pritzker and his wife in their latest filing, according to the Chicago Sun Times. The reported 2024 income was significantly larger than the $2.8 million the couple reported in 2023.
The gambling income is a drop in the bucket for Pritzker, who is an heir to the Hyatt Hotel family fortune. According to Forbes, Pritzker is worth an estimated $3.9 billion.
Pritzker is currently in his second term as governor and earlier this year announced plans to run for a third term. He has also been rumored to be a favorite to run for president in 2028, however, Pritzker has not committed to running for that office.
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