Hyatt Chair Thomas Pritzker Retires Amid Epstein Ties Scrutiny

Billionaire cites need to protect hotel chain as newly released documents detail his contacts with Epstein and Maxwell.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Thomas Pritzker, the 75-year-old hotel billionaire and Hyatt heir, is retiring as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels after newly released Justice Department documents detailed years of meetings and email exchanges between him, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell. Pritzker acknowledged exercising "terrible judgment" in maintaining contact with Epstein and Maxwell and said he feels deep sorrow for their victims.

Why it matters

The Pritzker family is one of the most prominent and influential in Chicago, with Thomas' cousin JB Pritzker serving as the current governor of Illinois. Thomas Pritzker's ties to Epstein and Maxwell have now come under renewed scrutiny, leading him to step down from his long-held role at Hyatt in an effort to shield the company from further fallout.

The details

The newly released Justice Department documents detailed years of meetings and email exchanges between Pritzker, Epstein, and Maxwell. Pritzker has been the executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels for over 20 years, but is now retiring in an effort to protect the company from the renewed scrutiny of his connections to the disgraced financier and his associate.

  • The Justice Department documents detailing Pritzker's ties to Epstein and Maxwell were recently released.
  • Pritzker has been the executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels for over 20 years.

The players

Thomas Pritzker

A 75-year-old hotel billionaire and Hyatt heir who is retiring as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels amid renewed scrutiny of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Jeffrey Epstein

A disgraced financier who was convicted of sex trafficking and died in jail in 2019.

Ghislaine Maxwell

An associate of Jeffrey Epstein who was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021.

JB Pritzker

The current governor of Illinois and Thomas Pritzker's cousin.

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What they’re saying

“I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. I feel deep sorrow for the victims of their heinous activities.”

— Thomas Pritzker (Wall Street Journal)

The takeaway

This case highlights the continued fallout from the Epstein scandal and the scrutiny that prominent individuals face when their ties to disgraced figures like Epstein and Maxwell come to light. Pritzker's decision to step down from his long-held role at Hyatt underscores the reputational damage that can occur, even years later, when such connections are exposed.