Tom Ricketts

Tom Ricketts is an American businessman and financier who is the chairman of the Chicago Cubs, one of the most beloved and historic franchises in Major League Baseball. Born in 1965, Ricketts built a career in finance, co-founding the firm Incapital, before leading his family's purchase of the Cubs in 2009. As chairman, he presided over one of the most emotional moments in American sports, the Cubs' 2016 World Series title, which ended a championship drought that had lasted more than a century.

This profile covers who Tom Ricketts is, his family background and education, his career in finance, his ownership of the Cubs, his net worth and his current role.

Family Background and Education

Thomas S. Ricketts was born in 1965 into a family that would become wealthy through finance. His father, Joe Ricketts, founded the brokerage firm that became TD Ameritrade, a pioneer of discount and online stock trading that grew into a major financial services company. The success of that business created the family fortune that would later enable the purchase of a major league baseball team.

Tom Ricketts pursued his education at the University of Chicago, earning both an undergraduate degree and a master of business administration. He has spoken about his love of the Cubs dating back to his student days near Wrigley Field, the team's historic ballpark, foreshadowing the role he would eventually play as the team's owner.

Career in Finance

Tom Ricketts built his career in the financial industry, developing expertise in investment banking and capital markets. He co-founded Incapital, a firm specializing in the distribution of fixed income securities and other financial products, and he held leadership roles in finance over many years. This career established him as a successful businessman in his own right, beyond the family wealth.

His background in finance and capital markets gave him the expertise to structure and lead a complex, large scale acquisition, skills that proved essential when the opportunity arose to purchase the Chicago Cubs. He brought a financial operator's discipline to the business of running a major sports franchise.

Buying the Chicago Cubs

In 2009, the Ricketts family, led by Tom, purchased the Chicago Cubs, along with the iconic Wrigley Field and related assets, in a major transaction. Tom Ricketts became chairman of the team, taking responsibility for one of the most storied but long suffering franchises in baseball, a team that had not won a World Series since 1908.

As chairman, Ricketts oversaw significant investment in the franchise, including a major renovation of the historic Wrigley Field and the surrounding area, modernizing the ballpark while preserving its character. He also backed the rebuilding of the team's baseball operations, bringing in respected leadership to construct a contender through player development and strategic moves.

Ending the Drought and Stewardship

The defining achievement of Tom Ricketts's ownership came in 2016, when the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, ending a drought of more than a century and sparking euphoric celebrations among the team's devoted fans. The championship was one of the most emotional and historic moments in modern American sports, and it cemented Ricketts's place in the history of the franchise.

In the years since, Ricketts has continued to oversee the Cubs through the ordinary cycles of a baseball franchise, including periods of contention and rebuilding. His stewardship has at times drawn criticism from fans over spending decisions and the team's competitiveness, a common tension for owners, but the 2016 title remains the towering accomplishment of his tenure. He has also been involved in the family's broader business and civic activities.

Tom Ricketts Net Worth

Tom Ricketts net worth is tied to the Chicago Cubs, a franchise worth several billion dollars, and to the broader Ricketts family fortune that originated with TD Ameritrade. Individual estimates of his personal wealth vary, and much of the family's wealth is held collectively, making any single figure for Tom Ricketts an approximation.

The Cubs, along with Wrigley Field and related real estate and media assets, have appreciated significantly in value during the family's ownership, in line with the broad rise in the worth of sports franchises. As the leader of the family's ownership of the team, Tom Ricketts is connected to a substantial fortune rooted in both finance and sports.

Personal Life

Tom Ricketts is married and has a family, and he is based in the Chicago area, where he is a prominent figure in the city's civic and sporting life. He is involved in philanthropy and community activities connected to the Cubs and the region. His public identity is closely tied to his role as the chairman of the Cubs and to the family's prominence in business and, at times, politics.

Achievements and Influence

Tom Ricketts's achievements include a successful career in finance, leading his family's purchase of the Chicago Cubs, overseeing the historic renovation of Wrigley Field, and presiding over the franchise's first World Series title in more than a century. His influence is felt in Major League Baseball, where he owns one of its flagship franchises, and in Chicago, where the Cubs are a civic institution. The 2016 championship stands as the defining legacy of his ownership.

Tom Ricketts in 2026

As of 2026, Tom Ricketts continues to serve as chairman of the Chicago Cubs. The themes around him include the team's ongoing pursuit of contention, decisions about payroll and roster building, the management of Wrigley Field and the surrounding development, and his stewardship of one of baseball's most cherished franchises.

He is profiled alongside other team owners in the Sports sector on Founder Canon, the figures whose decisions shape the franchises at the heart of professional sport.