Todd Ricketts

Todd Ricketts
Personal details
Born 1969/1970 (age 46–47)[1]
Political party Republican
Parents Joe Ricketts
Marlene Volkmer
Relatives J. Peter Ricketts (brother)
Laura Ricketts (sister)
Thomas S. Ricketts (brother)
Education Loyola University, Chicago (BA)
University of Chicago

Todd Ricketts (born 1969/70) is an American businessman and a co-owner of the Chicago Cubs. He is the son of Ameritrade founder and billionaire Joe Ricketts. On November 30, 2016, Ricketts was chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce.[2]

Early life and education

Todd Ricketts is the son of Marlene Margaret (née Volkmer) and Ameritrade founder and billionaire Joe Ricketts.[3] Forbes estimate of the Ricketts' family wealth ($1 billion), consolidated under J. Joseph Ricketts name, placed them at No. 371 on the Forbes 400 list.[4]

Ricketts is a 1993 graduate of Loyola University Chicago and attended the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, but did not finish his MBA.[1]

Career

Ricketts worked for his brother's securities and investment banking firm Incapital and for the financial services firm Knight Securities. He also worked for Ameritrade in business development.[5] Ricketts has been CEO of Ending Spending Super PAC since 2013.[6][7] Ricketts is an owner of Higher Gear Bike Shops in Wilmette, Illinois and Highland Park, Illinois and a member of the board of directors of World Bicycle Relief.[8][9]

Ricketts is on the board of the Chicago Cubs.[10]

On November 7, 2010, Ricketts appeared on the reality television series Undercover Boss, going incognito as an entry-level employee at Wrigley Field. His brother Tom was initially considered for the part, but the Cubs settled for Todd as he was considered less recognizable.[11] Ricketts grew out his beard and wore fake glasses, assuming his alias — unemployed roofer "Mark Dawson".[12] From August 30 to September 8, during a nine-game Cubs' homestand, Ricketts worked a number of jobs at the ballpark, selling hot dogs, operating the scoreboard, picking up trash, and cleaning toilets. He was fired from his maintenance job during the episode.[11]

Ricketts manages the Republican end of his family's political operations.[5] He was an influential fundraiser and donor during the 2016 US presidential election, supporting Wisconsin governor Scott Walker during the Republican Party primaries.[13] He was named co-chair of Walker's fundraising drive in May 2015.[14] After Walker bowed out of the race, the Ricketts family donated $5.5 million to Our Principles PAC, a super PAC opposing the candidacy of Donald Trump.[15][16] Once Trump became the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party, Ricketts reversed his stance, throwing his support to Trump.[15] Ricketts was an at-large member of the Illinois delegation to the Republican National Convention. During the tail end of the general election, Ricketts participated in fundraisers in Chicago for Trump's candidacy and helped to raise money for the pro-Trump super PACs 45 Committee and Future 45.[13]

On November 24, 2016, reports surfaced that President-elect Donald Trump would appoint Ricketts as Deputy Secretary of Commerce.[17] Trump confirmed his choice of Ricketts as Deputy Secretary of Commerce on November 30, 2016.[18]

Personal life

Ricketts is married to French-Canadian Sylvie Ricketts.[10] His siblings are Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, Lambda Legal boardmember Laura Ricketts, and Incapital CEO Thomas S. Ricketts.

Awards and honors

References

  1. 1 2 Dickey, Jack (May 18, 2012). "Which One's The Crackpot? Which One's The Lesbian? Know Your Rickettses, The Politically Active Cubs Owners". Deadspin.
  2. ↑ https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/803997374016167936
  3. ↑ "Thomas S. Ricketts". Forbes Biographies. Forbes. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
  4. ↑ "#371 J. Joseph Ricketts – The Forbes 400 Richest Americans 2009". Forbes. September 30, 2009.
  5. 1 2 Sweet, Lynn (November 24, 2016). "Sweet: Cubs' Todd Ricketts in line for deputy Commerce secretary". Chicago Sun-Times.
  6. ↑ Sweet, Lynn (April 16, 2014). "Scott Walker picks up backing from Todd Ricketts at Wilmette barbecue" (May 20, 2015). Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  7. ↑ Overby, Peter (September 1, 2015). "A Political Family, Funding And Running On Both Sides Of The Aisle". NPR. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  8. ↑ Held, Tom (August 5, 2011). "Cubs owner leads charity bike tour from Wrigley Field to Miller Park". jsonline.com. Jounal Sentinel Inc,. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  9. ↑ Foley, T. R. (June 28, 2010). "A Ride With Todd Ricketts". Bicycling.com. Rodale Inc. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  10. 1 2 Feldman, Kate (January 19, 2016). "Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts blasts 'obnoxious' Mets fans". NY Daily News.
  11. 1 2 Rosenthal, Phil (November 3, 2010). "'Undercover Boss' Todd Ricketts cleans toilets at Wrigley Field". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 28, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Chicago Cubs Exec Throws a Curve on 'Undercover Boss'". AOL Finance. November 6, 2010.
  13. 1 2 Pearson, Rick (November 18, 2016). "Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts to meet with Donald Trump". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 28, 2016.
  14. ↑ Sweet, Lynn (May 20, 2015). "Scott Walker picks up backing from Todd Ricketts at Wilmette barbecue". chicago.suntimes.com. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  15. 1 2 "After opposing Trump in primaries, Ricketts family donates $1M to support him". WGN-TV. September 20, 2016. Archived from the original on November 28, 2016. Back in February, Trump sent out a tweet that read, 'I hear the Rickets [sic] family, who own the Chicago Cubs, are secretly spending $'s against me. They better be careful, they have a lot to hide!'
  16. ↑ Mojica, Nicholas (November 24, 2016). "Trump Cabinet: Todd Ricketts To Be Named Deputy Commerce Secretary? 5 Fast Facts About Chicago Cubs Co-Owner". International Business Times.
  17. ↑ Johnson, Eliana; Nussbaum, Matthew (November 24, 2016). "Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts likely deputy commerce secretary". politico.com. Politico. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  18. ↑ https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/803997374016167936
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