The Ricketts Family Net Worth and Core Business Holdings
The Ricketts family is an American billionaire family primarily known for owning the Chicago Cubs and building a diversified financial and investment portfolio. Their wealth originates from the founding and growth of TD Ameritrade, which Joseph Ricketts launched in 1975 and took public in 1997 before its acquisition by Charles Schwab in 2023 for roughly 26 billion dollars in an all-stock deal Forbes. The family's net worth is estimated in the low billions, with the bulk of their assets tied to the Chicago Cubs, investment vehicles, and real estate, and their effective control over the Cubs valued at roughly 4.6 billion dollars as of recent valuations Forbes.
The family office manages a broad range of holdings beyond the Cubs and brokerage legacy, including stakes in financial services, real estate, and private equity vehicles. Joseph Ricketts remains a major limited partner in the Cubs, while his son Tom Ricketts serves as chairman of the Chicago Cubs and oversees the family's sports and entertainment interests MLB.com. The family's investment strategy emphasizes long-term ownership of high-value assets, with the Cubs serving as both a cultural institution and a core financial asset, and the TD Ameritrade legacy providing the foundational capital that enabled the expansion into diversified ownership and philanthropy.
Chicago Cubs Ownership, Management, and Sports Empire
The Ricketts family acquired the Chicago Cubs in 2009 for roughly 900 million dollars, and the franchise has since become one of the most valuable sports teams in the world, with Forbes valuing the Cubs at over 5 billion dollars in recent years Forbes. Tom Ricketts leads the ownership group as chairman, while siblings Laura, Pete, and Todd Ricketts are involved in the family's sports and investment operations, with the family maintaining direct control over the team's business strategy and stadium operations at Wrigley Field.
Cubs Business Operations and Wrigley Field
The Cubs generate revenue from ticket sales, broadcasting rights, merchandise, and stadium operations, with Wrigley Field serving as a major revenue driver and a protected landmark asset. The Ricketts family has invested in stadium upgrades, surrounding real estate development, and media partnerships to grow the franchise's value, and the team's on-field performance and brand recognition have reinforced its position as a premier sports asset in the United States.
Philanthropy, Political Influence, and Family Structure
The Ricketts family operates the TC Ricketts Foundation and supports a range of philanthropic initiatives focused on education, economic opportunity, and community development in Chicago and beyond MLB.com. The family is also notable for its political involvement, with Joe Ricketts having funded and advised conservative political causes and organizations, while the family's broader political donations and advocacy efforts have drawn attention in national policy debates.
Family Leadership and Governance
The Ricketts family is led by Joseph Ricketts, with key roles held by his children Tom, Laura, Pete, and Todd Ricketts across the Cubs, investment firms, and philanthropic entities. The family maintains a private structure for its business and political activities, with the Cubs serving as the most visible public-facing asset and the family office coordinating investments, philanthropy, and strategic decisions across the broader empire.