The Chairman of Hyatt Hotels, Thomas Pritzker, resigned over the Jeffrey Epstein relationship
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The Executive Chairman of Hyatt Hotels, Thomas Pritzker, announced on Monday that he is resigning immediately after documents released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed that his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The 75-year-old executive told the company’s board that he will not run for re-election at a meeting of Hyatt shareholders in May, which will end his 22-year tenure as chairman.
Pritzker admitted he made a bad decision by failing to distance himself from the disgraced financier, who died in his cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking, and Ghislaine Maxwell, who was also convicted of child trafficking alongside him.
“My job and my job is to provide good stewardship,” Pritzker said in a statement. “After discussions with my fellow Board members, I have decided, after serving as Executive Chairman since 2004, and with the company in a strong position, that now is the right time for me to retire from Hyatt.”
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Tom Pritzker, executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, is seen on Dec. 4, 2004. (Michael L Abramson/Getty Images)
“Good governance also means protecting Hyatt, especially in the case of my contacts with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell which I deeply regret,” he added. “I used very poor judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no reason to fail to distance myself immediately. I condemn the actions and harm caused by Epstein and Maxwell and I am deeply sorry for the pain they have caused their victims.”
Mark S. Hoplamazian will assume the dual role of chairman and chief executive officer, the company said.
Pritzker, a billionaire hotel executive and cousin of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, is among the prominent people named in millions of redacted documents the DOJ released earlier this year as part of a widening investigation into the notorious sex trafficker and his ties to numerous business and political figures.
| A ticker | Security | Finally | Change | change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H | Company HYATT HOTELS CORP. | 169.59 | +4.20 |
+2.54% |
According to the files, Pritzker and Epstein exchanged numerous emails, some of which included attempts to plan dinners and invitations to various events, Fox 32 Chicago reported.
Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein accuser who died in 2025, was alleged in May 2016 to have met with Pritzker during his abuse. In a January statement to FOX Business, Pritzker’s spokesperson vehemently denied the allegations.
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Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell attend an event on March 15, 2005, in New York City. (Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Pritzker has served as executive chairman since 2004, where he helped guide the company through its 2009 public offering and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
“Tom’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping Hyatt’s strategy and long-term growth, and we thank him for his service and dedication to Hyatt,” said Richard Tuttle, chairman of the board’s nominating and corporate governance committee, in a statement.
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The Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Diego, California, on Feb. 11, 2018. (Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“The Board has engaged in thoughtful succession planning, and we are confident that Mark’s deep knowledge of Hyatt’s business, strong relationships with owners and associates, and proven track record as CEO of nearly two decades position him well to serve as Chairman and continue to drive Hyatt’s long-term success.”
Eric Revell of FOX Business contributed to this report.
