Hyatt Chairman Thomas Pritzker Steps Down Over Epstein Ties

Pritzker, heir to the Hyatt Hotels empire, regrets maintaining contact with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Thomas Pritzker, the former executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, has stepped down from his position following the release of emails that revealed his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Pritzker, who is part of the prominent Pritzker family business dynasty, expressed regret over failing to distance himself from Epstein sooner.

Why it matters

Pritzker's resignation highlights the ongoing fallout from the Epstein scandal, which has ensnared several high-profile individuals. The revelations about Pritzker's connections to Epstein raise questions about the vetting processes and oversight at major corporations, especially those with close ties to influential families.

The details

The latest tranche of Epstein files released by the Department of Justice uncovered numerous email exchanges between Pritzker and the disgraced financier. The emails show the two men frequently planning meetings and discussing invitations to the Pritzker Architecture Prize ceremony. In one email, Epstein addressed Pritzker as being 'like family' and offered to arrange a meeting. Pritzker also reportedly helped Epstein's girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak, arrange a Southeast Asian trip in 2018, during which she told Pritzker she was 'going to try to find a new girlfriend for Jeffrey.'

  • In 2016, Thomas Pritzker was named in a deposition filed by Epstein's victim, Virginia Giuffre, who alleged that Pritzker was among the men she was trafficked to have sex with.
  • On February 17, 2026, Thomas Pritzker announced his retirement as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, stating that he 'exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner.'

The players

Thomas Pritzker

The former executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation and heir to the Hyatt Hotels empire. He has been married to philanthropist Margot Pritzker (née Marshall), with whom he shares three sons.

Jeffrey Epstein

The disgraced financier and convicted sex offender whose ties to influential figures, including Pritzker, have been uncovered in the latest release of Epstein files by the Department of Justice.

Margot Pritzker

The wife of Thomas Pritzker and the founder of the skills-based volunteer-matching organization, WomenOnCall. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University and a master's from the University of Chicago.

Virginia Giuffre

An Epstein victim who alleged in a 2016 deposition that Thomas Pritzker was among the men she was trafficked to have sex with. Giuffre reportedly took her own life in 2025.

Karyna Shuliak

Jeffrey Epstein's girlfriend, who Pritzker reportedly helped arrange a Southeast Asian trip in 2018, during which she told him she was 'going to try to find a new girlfriend for Jeffrey.'

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What they’re saying

“Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell which I deeply regret.”

— Thomas Pritzker, Former Executive Chairman, Hyatt Hotels Corporation (Reuters)

“I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner.”

— Thomas Pritzker, Former Executive Chairman, Hyatt Hotels Corporation (Reuters)

What’s next

Hyatt's board of directors has appointed Mark S. Hoplamazian, the company's president and CEO, as the new chairman, succeeding Thomas Pritzker.

The takeaway

The revelations about Thomas Pritzker's ties to Jeffrey Epstein have led to his resignation from Hyatt Hotels Corporation, underscoring the ongoing fallout from the Epstein scandal and the need for greater scrutiny and accountability at the highest levels of corporate leadership.