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Citadel owner Ken Griffin fled Lightfoot’s Chicago to Florida earlier this year — and he brought his company with him.
The hedge fund firm known as Citadel moved its operations to Florida, citing a more business-friendly environment.
In June CBS News reported:
In a note to employees at Citadel, Griffin announced he already has moved his family to Miami, and will soon be bringing the company with him, though some Citadel employees will remain in Chicago.
“Chicago will continue to be important to the future of Citadel, as many of our colleagues have deep ties to Illinois. Over the past year, however, many of our Chicago teams have asked to relocate to Miami, New York and our other offices around the world,” Griffin wrote. “We recognize that the choice of where to call home involves personal, family, school and other considerations, and we will provide comprehensive support to meet the needs of our teams.”
A spokesperson points to Florida’s business-friendly climate and Chicago’s violence as reasons for the move, saying, “talent wants to live in cities where they feel safe.”
According to a company spokesman, Citadel has about 1,000 employees in Chicago. It’s unclear how many of them will be relocating.
Citadel Securities, a related e-trading firm also owned by Griffin, also will be making the move to Miami.
Now, Ken Griffin is donating $100 million to Republican candidates in this years elections.
El American reported:
In September, Lori Lightfood’s progressive administration in Chicago prompted one of the richest men in America to set course for Florida. As if that weren’t enough, in addition to landing in the state governed by Ron DeSantis, he is donating more than $100 million to elect Republicans in the midterm elections.
He is Ken Griffin, CEO of Citadel, who has a net worth of $30 billion and, according to Bloomberg, is ranked among the 50 richest men on the planet.
According to reports, the millionaire made that decision after a senior colleague was robbed at gunpoint during a coffee shop in Chicago, while another was attacked unprovoked on the street.