Chicago Billionaire J.B. Pritzker Creates Exploratory Committee For Governor

CHICAGO, IL -- A billionaire Chicago venture capitalist on Tuesday said he has filed to create an exploratory committee, with an eye on running for Illinois governor in 2018.

J.B. Pritzker -- a self-proclaimed "entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist" and co-founder and managing partner of Pritzker Group -- was reportedly considering a run for the office last fall, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, and this week he took the next step.

"As I’ve traveled across Illinois I’ve listened to people express their deep concerns about the direction of our state," Pritzker said in a statement Tuesday taking aim at what he called Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's "failed leadership," NBC Chicago reported. "It is clear that having a Governor who’s unwilling to address our state’s challenges is having a real impact on people’s lives."

He joins fellow Democrats Chris Kennedy and Ald. Amaya Pawar, who have announced their intention to run.

Pritzker, whose family owns the Hyatt hotel chain, was listed as the 190th richest person in the U.S. by Forbes, which estimated his net worth at $3.4 billion, last year.

Image via jb-pritzker.com