Laura Ricketts

Ricketts and her three siblings grew up in Omaha, Nebraska.{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Oneal |author2=Tribune Staff Reporter |title=Roster of Cubs bidders expands Ricketts family founded Ameritrade |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2007/jul/12/business/chi-thu_cubsjul12 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=12 July 2007 |accessdate=30 January 2009 }} She is the daughter of John Joseph ("Joe") and Marlene Margaret Ricketts (née Volkmer).

Ricketts' father, Joe Ricketts, founded what became TD Ameritrade when Laura was age 7. He let it be known that he wanted his children to establish themselves through their own hard work and would not be allowed to join the company until they reached the age of thirty.{{cite news|first=Henry J. |last=Cordes |title=For Ricketts, it's about earning what you get |newspaper=Omaha World-Herald |page=1 |date=19 March 2006 |accessdate=30 January 2009 |url=http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2136058&u_rnd=5261989 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070804154849/http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673 |archive-date= 4 August 2007 }}

Ricketts is a former corporate lawyer. Ricketts received her bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago in 1989{{cite web| url=https://alumniandfriends.uchicago.edu/philanthropic-societies/college-honor-rolls/2015/1989 | title=UChicago Alumni & Friends | url-access=subscription}} and her Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School in 1998.{{cite news |title=Laura Ricketts |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=2009-11-01 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ricketts-bio-lauranov01,0,3613870.story }} Laura talks of her own struggle to come out; "I came out to my family I would say early to mid 90s. I think for a long time I wasn't really out to myself, growing up in Omaha, Neb., to a Catholic conservative family. It took me a while to come out to myself and not long after that I came out to them. I think that it really couldn't have been a better experience. They were all immediately supportive. ... I have been really really fortunate in that regard."

In 1999, Ricketts was admitted to the Illinois State Bar Association; her license to practice law expired in 2015.{{cite web| url=https://www.iardc.org/Lawyer/Search | title=ARDC Lawyer Search}}

On June 6, 2015, Ricketts married Brooke Skinner. Skinner is the Chief Experience Officer at Cars.com. Their wedding was officiated by Jim Bennett, the Midwest Director of Lambda Legal.{{cite web |url=http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/m/APPredirect.php?AID=51775 |title=Laura Ricketts, Brooke Skinner wed |author= |date=June 6, 2015|website=windycitymediagroup.com |publisher=Windy City Media Group |access-date=December 16, 2016 |quote=Chicago-area couple Laura Ricketts ( pictured left ) and Brooke Skinner were married June 6 in a wedding attended by family and friends. Ricketts, a co-owner of the Chicago Cubs, and Skinner, who then worked for Twitter, wore white dresses for the elegant wedding. It was officiated by Lambda Legal Midwest Director Jim Bennett.}}

Ricketts is one of four children. Older brother Pete Ricketts is a former Governor of Nebraska and the current junior U.S. Senator from Nebraska. Her brother Tom is chairman of the Chicago Cubs, and the chief executive officer of Incapital LLC. Tom, Laura, and their youngest brother, Todd, live within blocks of each other in Wilmette, Illinois.{{cite web|last=Rodkin|first=Dennis|date=24 November 2019|title=Cubs marketing chief pays $2.25 million for Wilmette house|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-real-estate/cubs-marketing-chief-pays-225-million-wilmette-house|website=Crain's Chicago Business|language=en-US}}

In 2013, Ricketts was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=http://www.glhalloffame.org/index.pl?page%3Dinductees%26todo%3Dyear |title=Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame |accessdate=2016-08-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017032241/http://www.glhalloffame.org/index.pl?page=inductees&todo=year |archive-date=2015-10-17 }}

Ricketts is a Democrat, unlike her parents and her siblings (who are all notable Republicans).{{cite web |url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-co-owner-laura-ricketts-discusses-coming-out-supporting-obama |last=Just |first=David |title=Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts discusses coming out, supporting Obama |date=April 20, 2016 |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=December 16, 2016 }}{{cite magazine |last=Cogan |first= Marin |date=April 20, 2016 |title=Talking to Chicago Cubs Co-owner Laura Ricketts, a Big-Deal Democrat in a Family of Big-Deal Republicans |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/04/laura-ricketts-encounter.html?mid=nymag_press |magazine=New York |location=New York City |publisher=New York Media LLC |access-date=December 16, 2016}} Ricketts is liberal and an LGBTQ activist. Ricketts founded and served as the chairwoman of LPAC, an LGBTQ Super PAC.{{cite news |last=Lynn |first=Sweet |date=June 16, 2016 |title=Hillary to return for July 13 fundraiser at Laura Ricketts' home |url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/hillary-back-july13-for-fundraiser-at-cubs-laura-ricketts-home/ |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |location=Chicago |access-date=December 16, 2016 |archive-date=December 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221073652/http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/hillary-back-july13-for-fundraiser-at-cubs-laura-ricketts-home/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last1=Kevin |first1=Arnovitz |title=What motivates billionaire sports owners to donate to political campaigns? |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30198394/election-2020-motivates-billionaire-sports-owners-donate-political-campaigns |website=ESPN.com |access-date=3 August 2021 |language=en |date=28 October 2020}}

Ricketts was a top bundler for Barack Obama's re-election campaign during the 2012 presidential election.

Ricketts was also a supporter of Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign in the Democratic primaries and the general election. In announcing LPAC's April 2015 endorsement of Clinton, Ricketts said, "We are proud to endorse Hillary Clinton as she begins her run for the White House. Hillary is an unyielding advocate for LGBTQ women. Our endorsement today represents LPAC’s strong support of her candidacy."{{cite press release |author= |title=LPAC Endorses Hillary Clinton for President |url=http://teamlpac.com/2015/04/13/lpac-endorses-hillary-clinton-for-president |publisher=LPAC |date=April 13, 2016 |access-date=2016-12-16 |archive-date=2016-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221232716/https://teamlpac.com/2015/04/13/lpac-endorses-hillary-clinton-for-president/ |url-status=dead }}

Ricketts was a top bundler for the Clinton campaign. Clinton herself personally attended a campaign fundraiser that Laura and her wife Brooke hosted at their Wilmette home in July 2016.{{cite news |last=Janssen |first=Kim |date=September 22, 2016 |title=Laura Ricketts sends not-so-subtle pro-Hillary message to dad at Cubs game |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-laura-ricketts-cubs-hillary-clinton-0923-chicago-inc-20160922-story.html |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |location=Chicago |access-date=December 16, 2016 }}

In addition to supporting Clinton as a donor and fundraiser, Ricketts supported several Democrats running for other offices in the 2016 elections. Ricketts gave personal donations that year to Jan Schakowsky's congressional re-election campaign, Tammy Duckworth's senate campaign, Maggie Hassan's senate campaign, and Russ Feingold's senate campaign.{{cite web |url=http://www.citizensforethics.org/major-league-baseball-owners-big-league-political-donors/ |title=MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL OWNERS ARE BIG LEAGUE POLITICAL DONORS| last=Morgan| first=John| date=October 27, 2016 |website=citizensforethics.org |publisher=Citizens for Ethics |access-date=December 16, 2016}} Ricketts also donated to the Hillary Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee benefiting both state parties and the Clinton campaign.

Ricketts served as an Illinois superdelegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention.{{cite web |url=https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6622695/Unpledged_Delegate_List_5.27.16.0.pdf |title=Unpledged Delegates By State| author= |date=May 27, 2016 |website=Vox |publisher=Vox Media |access-date=December 16, 2016}}

Rickets served as a co-chair of the campaign finance committee of Jesse Ruiz's campaign for the Democratic nomination in the 2018 Illinois attorney general election.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Rich|title=Penny Pritzker, Laura Ricketts, others co-chair Ruiz campaign finance committee|date=October 24, 2017|newspaper=Capitol Fax|url=https://capitolfax.com/2017/10/24/penny-pritzker-laura-ricketts-others-co-chair-ruiz-campaign-finance-committee/|accessdate=October 24, 2017}}

During Chicago's 2019 mayoral election, Ricketts endorsed and became a co-chair of Susana Mendoza's campaign in the first round.{{cite web |last1=Speilman |first1=Fran |title=A billionaire family divided: Laura Ricketts endorses Mendoza |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/1/31/18331139/a-billionaire-family-divided-laura-ricketts-endorses-mendoza/ |website=chicago.suntimes.com |publisher=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=3 August 2021 |date=31 January 2019}} After Mendoza was eliminated, Ricketts backed Lori Lightfoot in the election's runoff.{{cite web |last1=Spielman |first1=Fran |title=Lightfoot goes on fundraising flurry before caps lifted for mayoral race are reinstated |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2019/7/1/20677257/lightfoot-fundraising-caps-2019-mayoral-race-donations |website=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=3 August 2021 |language=en |date=1 July 2019}} She supported Lightfoot in the 2023 Chicago mayoral election, with Ricketts and her wife both having been named in April 2022 to serve as a finance co-chair of Lightfoot's reelection campaign.{{cite web |last1=Kapos |first1=Shia |title=Lightfoot taps a Ricketts for finance team |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2022/04/13/lightfoot-taps-a-ricketts-for-finance-team-00024919 |website=Politico |access-date=3 February 2023 |language=en |date=April 13, 2022}}

Ricketts supported Joe Biden during the 2020 United States presidential election.{{cite web |title=EDITORIAL {{!}} A Cubs fan's dilemma: How to root for the team without rooting for Donald Trump |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/6/12/21289453/todd-ricketts-cubs-ownership-laura-ricketts-tom-ricketts-theo-epstein-wrigley-field-trump-reelection |website=chicago.suntimes.com |publisher=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=3 August 2021 |language=en |date=12 June 2020}} After his victory, she donated $250,000 to the inaugural committee planning the Biden's inauguration.{{cite web |last1=Greenwood |first1=Max |title=Biden inaugural committee raised $62M with big sums from billionaires, corporations |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/549476-biden-inaugural-committee-raised-61m-with-big-sums-from-billionaires |website=TheHill |access-date=3 August 2021 |language=en |date=21 April 2021}}

File:Cubs World Series Victory Parade (30142887113) (Laura Ricketts).jpg during the 2016 World Series victory parade]]

On July 6, 2009, the Chicago Tribune reported that the Ricketts family had reached an agreement with the Tribune Company to purchase the Cubs, Wrigley Field, and 25% of Comcast SportsNet Chicago. Final approval came by a unanimous vote of the other MLB owners in an October 6, 2009, conference call.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4537317 |title=Cubs sale unanimously approved |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.com |date=2009-10-06 |access-date=2009-10-06}}

On October 27, 2009, the Ricketts family, with Thomas S. Ricketts as board chairman, officially took over 95% ownership of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field and 25% ownership of Comcast SportsNet Chicago for a purchase price of $845 million. The Tribune retained 5% ownership.{{cite news |title=Cubs sale to Ricketts is complete |author=Paul Sullivan |newspaper=Tribune Company |date=2009-10-27 |url=http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2009/10/cubs-sale-to-ricketts-is-complete.html}}

File:Laura Ricketts and Ernie Banks (4741788452).jpg]]

Laura Ricketts joins her three brothers, Tom, Pete and Todd, on the board of the Chicago Cubs. Her brother Tom is the chairman and led the acquisition. NBC Sports highlights the significance of Laura Ricketts ownership standing: "Not only has there never been an openly gay sports team owner before, but there have been next to no gay players -- at least none who were willing to admit it before their retirement." Christman of NBC Sports was able to cite three cases in MLB history of job loss suspectedly due to sexual orientation. Christman adds that "perhaps with a lesbian now on the board of a Major League team, some athlete will be able to come out of the closet while still working in a professional sports franchise and not lose their job."{{cite news |title=Cubs 1st Team to Have Gay Owner |author=Zach Christman |newspaper=NBC Sports |date=2009-11-01 |url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Cubs-Gay-MLB-Baseball-Owner-Laura-Ricketts-68319207.html }}

In the aftermath of the 2021 NWSL abuse scandal, the players of the National Women's Soccer League's (NWSL) Chicago FC (named the Chicago Red Stars at the time) called on owner Arnim Whisler to sell his stake in the club. Whisler had been named in an independent report that ultimately forced the resignation or termination of many managers and front office personnel throughout the league.{{cite web |title=Chicago Red Stars players urge owner Arnim Whisler to sell club |author=Ed Dixon |date=11 October 2022 |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/chicago-red-stars-arnim-whisler-ownership-orlando-pride-nwsl-abuse-report/ }} On December 5, 2022, Whisler announced that he would be selling his stake in the team. {{cite web |title=Chicago Red Stars sold to group led by Laura Ricketts |date=5 December 2022 |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37634603/chicago-red-stars-owner-whisler-selling-stake-nwsl-club }}

On August 15, 2023 it was announced that a group of Chicago business leaders, led by Laura Ricketts, had agreed to purchase the team for $60 million.{{cite web |title=Chicago Red Stars sold to group led by Laura Ricketts |author=James Neveau |url=https://www.nbcsportschicago.com/soccer/chicago-red-stars/chicago-red-stars-sold-to-group-led-by-laura-ricketts/501291/ }}{{cite web |title=Laura Ricketts-Led Group of Diverse Investors Buys Chicago Red Stars in $60 Million Deal |date=September 2023 |url=https://chicagoredstars.com/news/laura-ricketts-led-group-of-diverse-investors-buys-chicago-red-stars-in-60-million-deal/ }} Of the $60 million, $35.5 million went towards the purchase of the team and $25.5 million was ear-marked for future investment in the team.{{cite web |author=Meg Linehan |title=Laura Ricketts-Led Group Finalizes Chicago Red Stars Purchase: What's Next for the Club |website=The Athletic |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4826509/2023/09/01/red-stars-sale-laura-ricketts/ }}

Ricketts serves on the National Leadership Council of Lambda Legal, the "nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and people living with HIV/AIDS".{{cite news |title=Laura Ricketts Is First Openly Gay Owner Of A Pro Team |author=Anna Clark |newspaper=bitch |date=2009-11-02 |url=http://bitchmagazine.org/post/laura-ricketts-is-first-openly-gay-owner-of-a-pro-team }} Ricketts' work with Lambda Legal's Midwest Regional Office in Chicago has advanced lesbian and gay legal rights in the Midwest, including several legal victories. Most prominent are Lambda Legal's efforts to legalize same-sex marriage Iowa, 2009, where Ricketts served in a leadership and financier role. Camilla Taylor, senior staff attorney for Lambda Legal, is known as the "lead architect" of Varnum v. Brien, in which the Iowa Supreme Court upheld a 2007 district court ruling that said it was unconstitutional for Iowa to bar same-sex couples from marrying.{{Citation |publisher=Lambda Legal |title=The Bon Foster Address |year=2009}}{{cite press release |title=Lambda Legal Updates: Equality Sweeps the Nation |url=http://data.lambdalegal.org/pdf/632.pdf |publisher=Lambda Legal |year=2006 |accessdate=2009-11-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720172430/http://data.lambdalegal.org/pdf/632.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-20 |url-status=dead }} Ricketts' philanthropy includes support for other charitable organizations like the Housing Opportunities for Women organization and Howard Brown Health Center, a Chicago provider of health services for LGBT people.

• 2016 World Series champion (as part owner of the Chicago Cubs)

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{C-SPAN|63854}}

{{Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame}}

{{Chicago Stars FC}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ricketts, Laura}}

Category:1967 births

Category:Living people

Category:American sports businesspeople

Category:American LGBTQ businesspeople

Category:University of Chicago alumni

Category:University of Michigan Law School alumni

Category:Chicago Cubs owners

Category:People from Wilmette, Illinois

Category:Ricketts family

Category:Activists from Omaha, Nebraska

Category:LGBTQ people from Nebraska

Category:LGBTQ people from Illinois

Category:Businesspeople from Chicago

Category:Businesspeople from Omaha, Nebraska

Category:LGBTQ Roman Catholics