Billionaire Thomas Pritzker Steps Down as Hyatt Chairman Amid Epstein Ties
CHICAGO (AP) — Billionaire Thomas J. Pritzker announced his immediate resignation as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation on Monday, a move triggered by revelations of his long-standing relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. The disclosures surfaced in recently unsealed U.S. Justice Department files.
Pritzker, 75, who has led Hyatt Hotels as executive chairman since 2004, also stated he will not seek re-election to the company’s board at the 2026 annual stockholder meeting. In a letter to the Hyatt board, Pritzker expressed “deep regret” over his continued contact with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019, and Maxwell, calling it “terrible judgement” and acknowledging a failure to distance himself sooner.
“Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell which I deeply regret,” Pritzker wrote. “I exercised terrible judgement in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner.”
The decision comes as a wave of scrutiny intensifies following the release of court documents detailing Epstein’s extensive network of powerful individuals. The files, unsealed earlier this month, have implicated numerous figures in business, politics, and culture.
According to reporting by The New York Times, the newly released documents demonstrate Pritzker maintained regular contact with Epstein for years after the financier’s 2008 conviction on sex crime charges in Florida.
Pritzker is the latest high-profile figure to face repercussions. Last week, Kathryn Ruemmler, chief legal counsel for Goldman Sachs, resigned due to her ties to Epstein. Norwegian authorities have also searched the properties of former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland as part of a corruption investigation linked to his connections with Epstein. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, head of DP World, the world’s largest port operator, was replaced following revelations of his close friendship with Epstein. Economist Larry Summers previously resigned from the OpenAI board after being named in the Epstein files.
The fallout extends to the political arena. Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to Washington, has been asked to cooperate with a U.S. congressional investigation into Epstein’s network. Lawmakers requested a transcribed interview, citing Mandelson’s “extensive social and business ties” to Epstein. Mandelson was removed from his ambassadorial post in September 2025 after the UK Prime Minister’s office acknowledged the depth of his relationship with Epstein. The controversy surrounding Mandelson has fueled calls for the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, to resign, with critics questioning his judgement in the appointment. Starmer’s chief of staff and cabinet secretary have also stepped down in connection with the scandal.
The Epstein case continues to reverberate globally, prompting investigations and resignations across multiple sectors. The U.S. Justice Department’s release of the documents – totaling millions of pages – has shone a light on the scope of Epstein’s alleged crimes and the network of individuals who associated with him. Experts estimate the full impact of the disclosures will be felt for years to come, potentially leading to further legal and reputational consequences for those implicated.
The Hyatt Hotels Corporation has not yet announced a successor to Pritzker. Shares of Hyatt Hotels were down slightly in early trading following the announcement.
