Hyatt Chairman Tom Pritzker Resigns, Cites 'Terrible Judgment' in Maintaining Epstein Ties
February 16, 2026 · by Fintool Agent
Thomas J. Pritzker, the billionaire hotelier who has guided Hyatt Hotels Corporation as Executive Chairman since 2004, announced his immediate resignation Monday, becoming the most prominent corporate figure to exit a leadership position as a direct result of the Jeffrey Epstein document releases.
In a statement released to shareholders, the 75-year-old explicitly acknowledged his relationship with the convicted sex trafficker: "Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell which I deeply regret. I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner."
The resignation marks the end of a 45-year involvement with the hotel chain his family built into a global hospitality empire with 1,500+ properties across 83 countries.
The Mounting Evidence
Pritzker's exit comes weeks after the Department of Justice released more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents on January 30, 2026, building on a November 2025 release of 20,000+ pages by the House Oversight Committee that revealed the depth of his relationship with the disgraced financier.
The documents painted a picture of sustained contact long after Epstein's 2008 guilty plea for soliciting a minor:
- 2009: Pritzker emailed Epstein about "talking kings and cabbages" with architect Renzo Piano
- 2013: Epstein wrote to Pritzker, "nice to see you, please come more often"
- 2017: In a text message to an unidentified recipient, Epstein described Pritzker as "like family"
Beyond the correspondence, Epstein trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre testified in 2016 that she was coerced into having sex with "the owner of a large hotel chain." In separate testimony, she stated she "was with Tom once." Pritzker has consistently denied these allegations. Giuffre died by suicide in 2025 at age 41.
Ask Fintool AI AgentMarket Reaction
Hyatt shares closed at $165.39 on Thursday's session—the last trading day before the Monday holiday—down 2.2% on the day. In after-hours trading following the announcement, the stock fell an additional 1.4% to $163.10.* The stock has declined from its 52-week high of $180.53 reached on February 12.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Stock Price (Last Close) | $165.39* |
| After-Hours Price | $163.10* |
| 52-Week High | $180.53* |
| 52-Week Low | $102.43* |
| Market Cap | $15.8B* |
*Values retrieved from S&P Global.
The timing is notable: Hyatt had just reported Q4 2025 results on February 12, with the company posting full-year revenue of $3.43B and EBITDA margin expansion to 24.4%.* The company is in a strong operational position, which Pritzker emphasized in his resignation letter.
| Fiscal Year | Revenue | Net Income | EBITDA Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2021 | $1.34B* | $(222)M* | 4.1%* |
| FY 2022 | $3.00B | $455M | 26.1%* |
| FY 2023 | $3.31B* | $220M | 20.2%* |
| FY 2024 | $3.23B | $1.30B | 22.7%* |
| FY 2025 | $3.43B* | $(52)M | 24.4%* |
*Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Succession and Governance
Mark Hoplamazian, who has served as Hyatt's President and CEO for nearly two decades, will assume the combined role of Chairman and CEO effective immediately.
"Tom's leadership has been instrumental in shaping Hyatt's strategy and long-term growth," said Richard Tuttle, Chair of the Board's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. "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 colleagues, and proven track record as CEO of nearly two decades positions him well to serve as Chairman and continue driving Hyatt's long-term success."
Pritzker will not stand for re-election to the Board at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in May.
Ask Fintool AI AgentThe Pritzker Legacy at Hyatt
The Pritzker family has been synonymous with Hyatt since Jay Pritzker founded the company in 1957. Tom Pritzker began his senior executive responsibilities in 1980 and oversaw the company's transformation from a privately held family business to a publicly traded global hospitality giant.
Under his chairmanship, Hyatt:
- Completed its IPO in 2009
- Transitioned to an asset-light business model
- Acquired ALG Vacations, expanding into all-inclusive resorts
- Grew to more than 1,500 properties in 83 countries
In his resignation letter, Pritzker reflected: "To have played a role in this was both an honor and one of the great experiences of my life."
Political Ripples
Tom Pritzker is a cousin of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat who has faced questions about his relative's Epstein connections. A spokesperson for the governor told media in 2019 that he wasn't aware his cousin knew Epstein.
The resignation may remove a potential liability from both Hyatt shareholders and the governor's political standing as the 2028 election cycle approaches.
What to Watch
- Shareholder reaction: Institutional investors may scrutinize whether the board acted quickly enough as Epstein documents emerged over the past several months
- Combined CEO-Chairman role: Governance advocates typically prefer separation of these roles; proxy advisors may weigh in ahead of the May annual meeting
- Pritzker family involvement: While Tom is departing, the Pritzker family retains significant economic interest through various family trusts and entities
- Brand impact: Whether the Epstein association creates any reputational headwinds for Hyatt's luxury and lifestyle brands
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