Thomas J. Pritzker has stepped down as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation following renewed scrutiny over his past association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The decision comes after newly released files from the US Justice Department brought fresh attention to relationships between Epstein and several powerful figures.
Pritzker, who led Hyatt for more than two decades, said he deeply regrets maintaining contact with Epstein and Maxwell. He described his actions as a serious mistake and acknowledged that his association had become a concern for the company.
Thomas Pritzker Announces Immediate Resignation
Thomas Pritzker, 75, has served as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation since 2004. Under his leadership, the hotel chain expanded globally and strengthened its presence in major markets. However, the latest developments have led to a sudden leadership change.
In a letter to the Hyatt board and in a public statement, Pritzker said that protecting the company’s reputation is part of responsible leadership. He admitted that he exercised “terrible judgement” by staying in contact with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell after concerns about them had already surfaced.
Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges. Maxwell was later convicted in connection with crimes linked to Epstein’s activities.
Pritzker’s resignation takes effect immediately. He also confirmed that he will not seek re-election to Hyatt’s board at the company’s 2026 annual stockholder meeting. The company has not announced further details about a permanent leadership transition.
Justice Department Documents Bring Fresh Attention
The renewed focus on Thomas Pritzker follows the release of millions of pages of documents by the US Justice Department. According to reporting by The New York Times, the files show that Pritzker had ongoing and regular contact with Epstein for years, even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction on sex-related charges. The revelations have drawn attention not only to Pritzker personally but also to Hyatt, where he served as executive chairman for more than two decades.
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The documents provide deeper insight into Epstein’s wide network of business, political, and cultural figures in the United States and abroad. As more details have emerged, several high-profile individuals have faced professional consequences. For Hyatt, the developments have raised concerns about leadership accountability and corporate reputation, prompting increased scrutiny around the company’s governance standards.
At Goldman Sachs, chief legal counsel Kathryn Ruemmler resigned after her past ties to Epstein became public. In Norway, police conducted searches of properties owned by former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland as part of a corruption investigation linked to his connections with Epstein. As the documents continue to be examined, Hyatt remains among the major organizations affected by the broader fallout.
These developments have increased pressure on companies and public institutions to review leadership roles when associations raise concerns about ethics or judgment.
Political and International Fallout Expands
The impact of the Epstein files has also extended to political circles. In the United Kingdom, former ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson was asked to submit to questioning as part of a US congressional investigation into Epstein’s network.
Democratic Representatives Robert Garcia and Suhas Subramanyam, members of the US House of Representatives Oversight Committee, sent a letter stating that it was clear Mandelson had extensive social and business ties to Epstein. They requested that he make himself available for a transcribed interview.
Mandelson had taken up his ambassador role in February 2025. He was later removed from the position in September 2025 after the government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer said new information had come to light showing the deeper nature of his longstanding ties to Epstein.
Epstein financial records show investments tied to Venezuela’s sanctioned state oil
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The controversy led to political pressure within the UK. Critics questioned Starmer’s judgment in appointing Mandelson. Reports also stated that Starmer’s chief of staff and cabinet secretary stepped down amid the wider fallout.
For Hyatt Hotels Corporation, the matter has resulted in a significant leadership change. Thomas Pritzker’s decision to step down marks one of the most prominent corporate responses so far following the latest release of Justice Department files connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s network.
