It wasn’t a taxing trip for the governor.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker won $1.4 million while playing blackjack on a trip to Las Vegas, he revealed Thursday at a press conference.
Pritzker declared $1.4 million in gambling winnings on his 2024 tax return, which was released Wednesday, prompting reporters to ask how he won at the presser on Thursday.
“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 said. “It was in Las Vegas, and I like to play cards.”
Pritzker, 60, didn’t go into any further detail of his blackjack success.
The governor is an heir to the Hyatt hotel chain and has an estimated net worth of $3.9 billion, making him one of the richest people in the country. Pritzker’s full tax return showed $10.66 million in 2024 income.
“I think people know that when I got elected, and they’ve known for some time, that I’ve been very fortunate in my life,” Pritzker said Thursday.
Named as a potential vice presidential candidate in 2024, Pritzker is seen as a Democratic contender for the White House in 2028 and has remained in the spotlight battling President Trump’s administration over the deployment of federal troops in Illinois.
With News Wire Services
