Q: Everyone knows you’re wealthy. I want to know what is just one perk about being a billionaire? There have to be a bunch of them.
Pritzker: Oh, I’m extraordinarily lucky.
Q: I know, but there’s got to be, there’s got to be a like a little cool thing, a little cool or a big cool thing. Pick whatever you want. I’m sure there’s a bunch of them.
Pritzker: What do you mean? I mean, look, I, they’re obviously, I think one of the, you know, one of the things that I’ve been able to do is, frankly, to be of assistance to people who otherwise don’t have the resources. I mean that honestly has been a very valuable thing to me personally. It’s one of the reasons, in the end, that I chose to go into public service was you know I think there’s a whole lot that I can offer that, you know, because I could run for office without taking money from special interests, I have fought for the things that I knew were the right thing to do, and not been a fighter for some little special interest or for some big business.
Q: That’s, your generosity and values is great. Is there another little thing that people would be interested to know? Just there’s got to be there’s got to be…
Pritzker: What do you mean? Like something fun?
Q: Yes, I mean fun. We all know you can fly private if you want to, or have a meal at any restaurant. Like, is there any little cool thing?
Pritzker: I, again, I think the the biggest, most important thing has been, at least for me…
Q: [Laughs]
Pritzker: No, I mean, I really, I, I, look. Otherwise, otherwise, you know, life is just a series of you know stuff that you can own, right? And so I really don’t view it that way. I know you’re saying like, listen, it’s cool. I’ve got a really cool watch on. This is made by a company called Withings. It helps me track, you know, my steps. It tracks, it tracks my heart rate. It tracks, you know. I mean, these are you may have a watch like that too, but you know, this is something I could afford, right? It’s it’s a couple hundred, few $100
* Q: That’s not billionaire afford, but I got it. I got it. I’m just, I’m just, I didn’t know if you had anything that you…
* Pritzker: I mean, I really do. I feel extraordinarily fortunate, and I am also like, I feel like it’s an opportunity for me to give back in ways that maybe others can’t. But again, whatever money you’ve got, I think it’s your values that really matter, especially if you’re going into public service.
Maybe find a way to say how fun it is to be him instead of that rigamarole. Just saying
- Downstate Teacher - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 9:21 am:
Literally just say “With my wealth, I get to run for office like this. Many of the people I represent cannot afford to run for office but my wealth gives me the chance to represent them when they cannot.”
Or, if you want to really answer the question without looking like an elite, talk about how it allows you to travel and see this country in a way that so many others never get the chance to.
- Steve - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 9:25 am:
JB really doesn’t need to do these kind of interviews. Illinois voters know him and like him. He also doesn’t have to waste money on campaign commercials. No one really cares about GOP candidates in this state.
- Juice - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 9:33 am:
Dude, you threw a birthday party for Jesse White that Parliament-Funkadelic played at, on your dime.
Just go with that.
- Seventh Floor - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 9:34 am:
Eh, this was a lose-lose question for him. Either he answers truthfully and sounds disconnected from the average person, or he gives this answer and is still criticized
- P. - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 9:36 am:
Giving to charity and supporting causes I believe in is a lot fun. Boom done.
- Perrid - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 9:48 am:
He is just desperate not to give anyone a soundbite of him saying “I really like my mansions and horse farms” lol.
- Socially DIstant Watcher - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 9:50 am:
@P.: that’s the answer he was giving and the reporter just wasn’t accepting it. Like they had a story in mind and wanted a different answer
- Green Mountain boys - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 9:58 am:
I do not have to board Group C when I fly to my home in Florida.
The pilots take off when I tell them to.
- Montrose - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 10:00 am:
I agree it was a lose-lose. “Here’s the frivolous thing I love doing with my excessive wealth” is not going to play well. I think he is sincere about the opportunity to help others, AND I think that was also the only answer he could give.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 10:02 am:
The Governor is rich beyond the imagination of most of the electorate. He needs a better answer to this question that isn’t able to be boiled down to “I am so rich I bought the office of Governor.”
He’s needs to get better at talking about his wealth.
- RiverNorthGuy - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 10:04 am:
This was a lose-lose for JB. There was not much of a path to answer this without sounding awkward at best or extremely out of touch at worst.
That said - he could have given basically the same answer he did but in a more concise manner. Didn’t need to be a whole back and forth.
- levivoted4judy - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 10:06 am:
I’ve met JB a handful of times and was shocked by how “normal” he seemed. But since being ultra-rich his whole life, his normal and my normal are different. This Q&A makes you wonder if he knows what my normal really is. But I have to give him a pass on this because you can’t control who your parents are. He’s done a lot of good with his wealth and to me, that’s what matters because he didn’t have to.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 10:06 am:
I think it’s an unfair question. He’s a rich guy from a rich family. He admits he’s very lucky. Should have left it at that.
- Amurica - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 10:09 am:
I wish at least once a politician would call these reporters bluff. Something like, I know you want me to specify some material object that shows me out of touch with most Americans but honestly the blessings I have received will hopefully best be remembered on how they bettered others.
- Frida's Boss - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 10:11 am:
Your inauguration party had Maroon 5.
Your family went to your horse farm out of state during COVID.
You reportedly won $1.4 million in blackjack. That wasn’t two-dollar bets.
You have enough money that the Governor of the 5th largest state offered to sell you a US Senate seat, and you only wanted the Treasurer.
Just a few examples of things normal people can’t even comprehend in their brains that he was able to experience because of his wealth.
Should have said- “I built the Holocaust museum, to never let people forget the absolute horrific tragedy of the Holocaust,” granted, in today’s new DSA party, that may be a negative.
Don’t take this kind of interview again.
- Dirty Red - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 10:15 am:
Gov does not have a consistently smooth delivery.
= No, I mean, I really, I, I, look. Otherwise, otherwise, you know, =
It’s not a new characteristic. I am sure he practices. He seems to make good eye contact and he only sways every so often, but this last missing piece of his media presence masks what he needs to say. I don’t mean to downplay the importance of having an almost instant response to questions, but I wonder what allowing him the split-second to take a breath, organize his thoughts, and then answer the question would do. The momentary pause might make all the difference and remove so many of the “likes” and “you knows” he is known for.
- gambler - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 10:17 am:
“I can forego the tax write off and associated embarrassment for potentially millions in high roller gambling losses that may or may not occur alongside that pesky $1.4 million win which was automatically reported”
- Johnny B - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 10:27 am:
He could just say his billions have allowed him to spend $350 million dollars to be elected Governor of Illinois and help elect his choice for US Senator
- West Sider - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 10:46 am:
I get the opportunity and privilege of being generous- is something virtually no other billionaire is embracing in this country- outside of the ex-wives club of Melinda French and Mackenzie Scott.It is a lesson we could all embrace in our lives. What the Governor should have said is: in small and large ways I get to make other peoples lives a little bit better every day- what’s cooler than that?
- wildcat12 - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 10:59 am:
Honestly? Turn it around on the reporter. Say, yes, I do enjoy a lot of privileges due to my wealth but I don’t think it’s appropriate to talk about them when people I serve are struggling to afford groceries. That’s where my focus is.
- It's always Sunny in Illinois - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 11:13 am:
you know, because I could run for office without taking money from special interests,
should have continued……you know I became a Special Interest donor operation in my own right….
- Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 11:18 am:
Name three personal heroes that you got to meet. Politics, music, sports…I mean “I got to meet Michael Jordan once” is a relatable answer.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 11:31 am:
Maybe we’re so used to billionaires constantly flaunting their wealth we should simply appreciate someone who downplays it.
There was a time when it was considered tacky to publicize wealth.
- Donny B - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 11:49 am:
Not that I agree with his deflections but he probably feels that if he starts talking about how great it is to have wealth he’ll lose his popularity or link with the “Common Man”. Not a great time to do that if he’s mulling over a Presidential Run.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Jul 21, 26 @ 11:53 am:
“Gee, Governor, I understand your administration has made a sizable dent in the pension debt and has the state paying its bills on time for the first time in forever, but seriously, who’s your favorite Backstreet Boy?”
Get bent.