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Ken Griffin is worth $29 billion, which places him among the 50 richest people alive.
Griffin used to be the wealthiest person in Illinois until he left the crime-ridden state and moved to sunny Florida.
His company Citadel is reportedly pouring billions into Florida. Griffin has spoken out about the poor business environment in Chicago and skyrocketing crime rates.
Citadel, which manages $51 billion in assets, has relocated to Miami.
CNBC reports that Griffin has spent $175 million on five acres of property.
He has also spent $450 million on land for a new estate north of Palm Beach, which is larger than Mar-a-Lago.
Citadel has spent over $600 million on an empty lot that will house its new headquarters.
More on this story via Daily Wire:
The real estate spending spree of more than $1 billion occurs as Griffin sells his two penthouses in Chicago. Griffin was also heavily involved in contributing to Chicago nonprofits, giving more than $600 million over the course of two decades to organizations such as Northwestern Medicine and the Art Institute of Chicago, according to Bloomberg. Meanwhile, Citadel has a lease on Park Avenue in New York City, and Griffin retains a $240 million home near Central Park, which constitutes the most expensive house in America.
Griffin slammed rising crime rates in Chicago in recent comments made to The Wall Street Journal. Under the leadership of Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D), the city recorded 797 homicides in 2021 — the highest of any American city.
“If people aren’t safe here, they’re not going to live here,” Griffin told the outlet. “I’ve had multiple colleagues mugged at gunpoint. I’ve had a colleague stabbed on the way to work. Countless issues of burglary. I mean, that’s a really difficult backdrop with which to draw talent to your city from.”
Meanwhile, Griffin has a prolonged feud with Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL), who mocked the billionaire as he left the state. Construction machinery maker Caterpillar and airplane manufacturer Boeing also left Chicago this year.
“So like a spoiled rich kid, Griffin announced he was taking his toys and leaving Illinois,” Pritzker said in remarks for a meeting of the Florida Democrats. “Where did he move to? You guessed it. His $400 million, 20-acre Palm Beach estate. And he’s one of Ron DeSantis’ largest donors.”
