Billionaire Thomas Pritzker has announced his resignation as executive chair of the hotel chain Hyatt after facing scrutiny over his connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Pritzker, who has held the position since 2004, acknowledged his “terrible judgment” in maintaining ties with Epstein, whose history includes procuring minors for prostitution, and Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for her role in grooming underage girls.
Documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice revealed that Pritzker was in regular communication with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 plea deal, which had implications for his reputation and Hyatt’s standing. Pritzker stated that his decision to step down followed discussions with the board, confirming he would not seek re-election. In a statement issued through his family office, the Pritzker Organisation, he emphasized the importance of good stewardship in his role, particularly in light of his controversial associations. He expressed profound regret for not distancing himself from Epstein and Maxwell sooner, and condemned their actions that caused immense harm to their victims.
The released documents included exchanges between Pritzker and Epstein, as well as correspondence with Maxwell. Notably, in a 2003 email to Pritzker, Maxwell outlined expected guests at a dinner party, including five models described as “serving girls.” In response, Pritzker suggested that these models should be treated as guests rather than servers, indicating a disconcerting level of comfort with the context of the gathering.
Hyatt, founded by Pritzker’s father, Jay Pritzker, has grown to operate more than 1,450 hotels and resorts globally, employing over 220,000 staff members. Following Pritzker’s departure, the board appointed Mark Hoplamazian, the current president and CEO, as the new chair effective immediately. In his letter to the board, Pritzker did not explicitly mention Epstein but noted his upcoming 76th birthday and expressed confidence in the company’s capability to thrive moving forward.
Pritzker’s resignation marks a growing trend of high-profile business figures stepping down after revelations regarding their past associations with Epstein. Recently, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem of DP World resigned amid similar scrutiny, while Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer Kathy Ruemmler and Paul Weiss chair Brad Karp also announced their exits due to ties with Epstein. Additionally, Casey Wasserman, a notable Hollywood talent agent, chose to sell his business, citing that his past personal mistakes had become a distraction for his company. This collective fallout is indicative of the broader implications as the Epstein scandal continues to unfold, affecting many within the realms of politics, business, and entertainment.
