Poker Writer
A 2024 tax summary for Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker revealed that he won $1.4 million from gambling, which he attributed to “incredible luck.”
“It was in Las Vegas, and I like to play cards,” he said.
Pritzker’s campaign released his 2024 tax summary, which showed that he made more than $10 million in adjusted gross income. The governor, who is the son of the president of Hyatt Hotels, has a net worth of $3.7 billion, according to Forbes.
During an interview with reporters, the Democrat mentioned that he has used his winnings to support charitable causes. He has hosted the Chicago Poker Challenge, which has raised millions of dollars for the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie, Ill.
Pritzker did not disclose all the details, such as how much he bet to win the $1.4 million. But he said he won the money playing blackjack.
Pritzker has a minor history with poker, dating back to at least 2012. His involvement in private equity financing for an investment group was part of propping up Federated Sports and Gaming, which owned Epic Poker League before its well-chronicled bankruptcy.
Increased Scrutiny on Pritzker
The 60-year old has been the governor of Illinois since 2019 and is expected to run for re-election in 2026. He has recently thrust himself into the national spotlight more prominently by taking aim at President Donald Trump.
The temperature has been turned up considerably in the past couple of weeks. The federal government turned its ire on Chicago, deploying officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Pritzker stood up to Trump with a defiant statement:
I’m not afraid. Come and get me, Donald.
I will stand up for the law and the Constitution. That’s what we do in the State of Illinois.
Republicans and right-wing political commenters have increasingly criticized Pritzker in the wake of these recent clashes with Trump. The official Homeland Security X account has also begun to attack Pritzker over a variety of topics related to immigration. That has made the timing of this story raise even more eyebrows.
Meanwhile, Pritzker is considered a candidate to run in the Democratic primary for the next presidential campaign. Current odds on Kalshi list him with a 3% chance to be the 2028 nominee.
Image Credit: World Economic Forum via Wikimedia Commons (license)
