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Ricketts Financial, LLC
The Ricketts family built their fortune through TD Ameritrade, the discount brokerage firm co-founded by J. Joseph Ricketts in 1971.
Ricketts Financial, LLC
The Ricketts family built their fortune through TD Ameritrade, the discount brokerage firm co-founded by J. Joseph Ricketts in 1971. The firm went public in 1997 and was eventually sold to Charles Schwab in 2020 for $26 billion. Today, Ricketts Financial, LLC serves as the family's private investment vehicle, with involvement in both portfolio management and direct holdings. The family is also widely recognized for their ownership of the Chicago Cubs, acquired in 2009 for $845 million. Strategy and deployment across Ricketts Financial is multi-asset. The office invests in public equities, private equity, venture capital, real estate, and fixed income. Notable investments include stakes in professional sports franchises, real estate developments in Chicago, and technology and healthcare private companies. The geographic focus is primarily the United States, but includes select international opportunities. The scale of the office is not publicly disclosed, but the family's net worth is estimated in the billions. The family also operates the Ricketts Family Foundation, a philanthropic arm focused on civic and cultural causes in the Midwest. No recent operational events have been publicly reported for the office itself. A structural differentiator is the family's active involvement in both the financial services industry and professional sports ownership, which provides unique access to deal flow and co-investment opportunities in sports-related assets and adjacent sectors. The office operates with a long-term, multi-generational investment horizon.
General information
Firm type
Multi Family Office
Year founded
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AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
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Country
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City
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Corporate office
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Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Ricketts Financial?
The office is overseen by the Ricketts family, with key figures including Joe Ricketts, the family patriarch and founder of TD Ameritrade, and his children Tom, Laura, Todd, and Pete Ricketts. Tom Ricketts serves as chairman of the Chicago Cubs, while the family collectively manages their wealth through Ricketts Financial (per public record).
How does Ricketts Financial source proprietary deal flow?
The family leverages its significant network in financial services, professional sports, and the Chicago business community to source direct investments and co-investment opportunities. Their ownership of the Cubs provides unique access to sports-related assets and real estate development in the Wrigleyville area (per the firm's public statements).
Is Ricketts Financial structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
Ricketts Financial functions as a multi-family office, managing the wealth of multiple family branches. While it does engage in venture-style direct investments, its primary operations are centered on preserving and growing the family's multi-generational capital through a diversified portfolio (per public record).
What is the relationship between Ricketts Financial and the Chicago Cubs?
Ricketts Financial does not manage the Cubs directly; the baseball team is held separately through the family's ownership group. However, the family's involvement in sports provides valuable market insights and investment opportunities in adjacent sectors, including sports technology and real estate around the team's ballpark (per public record).
Does Ricketts Financial maintain philanthropic structures?
Yes, the family operates the Ricketts Family Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused on supporting cultural institutions, education, and community programs in Nebraska and the Chicago area. The foundation is separate from the family office but receives capital from the family's wealth (per the foundation's IRS filings).
What is Ricketts Financial's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
The office is known to participate in co-investments and direct deals alongside established private equity and venture capital firms, particularly in sectors where the family has operational expertise. They are selective and focus on relationships that align with their long-term investment horizon (per public record).
What investment stages does Ricketts Financial typically target?
Ricketts Financial invests across the capital structure, from early-stage venture to growth equity and mature private equity buyouts. They also maintain a significant allocation to public equities and real estate, reflecting a balanced approach that spans stage and asset class (per public record).
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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