Hyatt Billionaire Thomas Pritzker Resigns Over Epstein Ties
Key Takeaways
- ▶ Thomas Pritzker resigned from Hyatt Hotels board, citing 'terrible judgment' in maintaining contact with Jeffrey Epstein.
- ▶ Pritzker's statement offered no details about when his contact with Epstein began, ended, or what their interactions involved.
- ▶ The resignation follows DOJ files naming Pritzker among hundreds with documented contact with Epstein's network.
- ▶ Pritzker is the third major executive to resign after being named in the files, following Goldman Sachs and Dubai ports officials.
Thomas Pritzker resigned from the board of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, citing his contact with Jeffrey Epstein as the reason for his departure, according to PBS NewsHour.1
“I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner,” Pritzker said in a statement.1
His statement did not specify when his contact with Epstein began or ended, what their interactions involved, or whether they included business dealings. Pritzker also did not say whether he has been contacted by law enforcement.1
The Pritzker Name and Hyatt
The Pritzker family founded Hyatt in 1957 and ranks among the wealthiest families in the United States. Thomas Pritzker had served as executive chairman of the hospitality company, which now operates more than 1,300 properties in 70 countries.
His cousin, J.B. Pritzker, serves as governor of Illinois. The family’s holdings extend beyond hotels to manufacturing, real estate, and private equity.
Hyatt announced that Pritzker’s board position would remain vacant pending a search for his replacement. The company thanked him for his service but did not address whether the board had prior knowledge of his contact with Epstein.1
Third Major Executive Departure
The resignation follows the release of Department of Justice files that named Pritzker among hundreds of individuals who had documented contact with Epstein.1 Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer resigned after being named in the files, as did the chief of Dubai’s ports authority after hundreds of emails with Epstein were made public.2
The DOJ files show Epstein maintained contact with dozens of business leaders, politicians, and academics after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. Multiple lawmakers have disputed the DOJ’s claim that all relevant files have been released.3
Pritzker’s statement offered no explanation for how he came to know Epstein, whether their contact was social or professional, or how frequently they communicated. The limited detail mirrors statements from other executives who have resigned since the files became public.
J.B. Pritzker
Jeffrey Epstein