JB Pritzker: podcast appearances and interviews

Jay Robert Pritzker, born on January 19, 1965, is an American politician, philanthropist, and businessman. Since 2019, he has served as the 43rd governor of Illinois and is a member of the Democratic Party. Pritzker comes from the Pritzker family, which owns the Hyatt hotel chain, and has been involved in creating several Chicago-based venture capital and investment startups. He was active in Democratic politics before holding elected office, including an unsuccessful bid for Illinois's 9th congressional district in 1998. He has been a significant financial supporter of Democratic candidates and served as a national co-chair of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. As of August 2025, Forbes estimated his net worth at 3.9 billion dollars, making him the second-wealthiest U.S. elected official after President Donald Trump. Pritzker won the Democratic primary for governor of Illinois in 2018 and defeated incumbent Republican Bruce Rauner in the general election. He was reelected in 2022, defeating Darren Bailey. A progressive Democrat, he has supported policies including the legalization of recreational cannabis, raising the minimum wage, expanding abortion access, and implementing income tax reforms. During his second term, Pritzker has become a prominent critic of the second Trump administration.