Joe Ricketts | |
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Born |
John Joseph Ricketts July 16, 1941 Nebraska City, Nebraska, U.S. |
Residence | Bondurant, Wyoming, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Creighton University |
Occupation | Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Chicago Cubs Owner |
Known for | Founder, TD Ameritrade |
Net worth | $1 billion |
Spouse(s) | Marlene Margaret Ricketts (née Volkmer) (1963–present) |
Children | Laura Ricketts, Pete Ricketts, Todd Ricketts, Tom Ricketts |
Website | http://www.joericketts.com |
John Joseph "Joe" Ricketts (born July 16, 1941) is an American businessman. He is the founder, former CEO and former chairman of TD Ameritrade, one of the largest online discount brokerages in the world, based in Omaha, Nebraska. Since 2008, Ricketts has pursued a variety of entrepreneurial ventures including DNAinfo.com, High Plains Bison, The Lodge at Jackson Fork, and The American Film Company. Ricketts also engages in philanthropy through Opportunity Education Foundation, The Cloisters on the Platte Foundation, The Ricketts Art Foundation, The Ricketts Conservation Foundation, and Ending Spending, Inc.
John Joseph Ricketts was born and raised in Nebraska City, Nebraska, the son of Florence M. (Erhart) and Donavon Platte Ricketts. He obtained a bachelor's degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in 1968. Ricketts is married to Marlene Margaret (Volkmer), with whom he has four children, Thomas, Pete, Laura, and Todd, who were raised Roman Catholic. In 2009, Ricketts ranked #371, according to Forbes magazine, of the 400 wealthiest Americans, with a net worth of $1 billion. He currently resides in Little Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
In 1975, John Joseph Ricketts and a few partners formed First Omaha Securities, a retail securities brokerage firm that through mergers and acquisitions grew into TD Ameritrade. Ricketts retired from the TD Ameritrade board in October 2011 to concentrate on entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
In 2004, John Joseph Ricketts founded High Plains Bison, a retailer of natural bison meat. In addition to online and offline sales channels, High Plains Bison is the official bison vendor at Chicago's Wrigley Field. Some of the bison are raised on a Wyoming ranch owned by Ricketts. A four-bedroom lodge named The Lodge at Jackson Fort Ranch is located on the same property.