Illinois Governor’s Shocking $1.4 Million Blackjack Windfall in Las Vegas Raises Eyebrows and Questions

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker once again proves that the phrase “the rich get richer” isn’t just some cynical bumper sticker—it’s practically his personal motto. Imagine skipping a paycheck for years because, well, $4 billion in the bank as an heir to Hyatt Hotels eases a certain kind of financial anxiety. Still, not drawing a salary doesn’t mean the governor hasn’t been stacking chips elsewhere—in his case, quite literally. In 2024, Pritzker and his wife posted a staggering $10.6 million in taxable income, including a jaw-dropping $1.4 million won while playing blackjack in Vegas. Yes, you read that right—a single vacation, some very high-stakes card play, and a windfall that few can wrap their heads around. Sure, luck plays a role in the casino, but when you’re wagering tens of thousands per hand, and you walk away with a million-plus haul, it reads more like a legend in the making. And if you’re wondering where that jackpot ends up—charity gets the nod. Taxes? They paid their fair share—over $34 million combined in federal and state taxes. It’s a tale of fortunes, risk, and generosity swirling in the glamour and grit of the gambling tables and political life. Curious how a billionaire governor’s Vegas gamble shapes his year? LEARN MORE.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is the living embodiment of the phrase ‘the rich get richer.’

Since becoming the 43rd governor of Illinois in 2019, Pritzker has not taken a salary, and that decision was likely made easier given the fact that he has a net worth of nearly $4 billion as an heir to the Hyatt Hotels Corp. family fortune.

Not taking a salary doesn’t mean that Gov. Pritzker has not made an income over the years, and in 2024, his earnings included quite a note.

According to tax filings released by his campaign, Gov. Pritzker and his wife, MK, made $10.6 million in taxable income in 2024, which includes $1.4 million in gambling earnings. He told reporters on Thursday that he was “incredibly lucky” during a trip to Las Vegas.

“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 explained.

After the $1.4 million gambling earnings were noticed and various outlets reported the number on Thursday, a spokesman later shared that the money was won at the blackjack table and that it would be donated to charity.

OutKick reached out to Gov. Pritzker’s office and his communications team for comment.

Gov. Pritzker is correct in saying that you have to have luck on your side to leave a casino with more money in your pocket than when you walked in, but to pick up $1.4 million on a single vacation to Vegas, which is what he implied happened, is nearly impossible to put into perspective.

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To win $1.4 million playing blackjack, you have to be wagering tens and tens of thousands of dollars per hand and then go on a run for the ages against the dealer. Several casinos will allow that sort of wagering – especially when it involves someone worth billions like Gov. Pritzker – but to leave Vegas over a million dollars richer truly is something.

All in all, the Prizkers paid $30.2 million in federal taxes and $4.5 million in state taxes in 2024, according to a release obtained by the Chicago Tribune.