Career
Ricketts worked for securities and investment banking firm Incapital and for the financial services firm Knight Securities. He also worked for TD Ameritrade in business development, and he is on the board of directors of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: AMTD).
Ricketts is also on the board of directors of the Chicago Cubs. In April 2007, Sam Zell announced his intention to acquire the Chicago-based Tribune Company. After acquiring the Tribune, Zell announced that he would sell the Cubs and related entities including Wrigley Field and a 25% share of SportsNet Chicago. The Ricketts family bid was selected as the winning bid on January 22, 2009. The family bid included all four siblings (Peter, Tom, Laura, and Todd) and both parents. Forbes estimated that the ownership stake in the Chicago Cubs represents $642 million out of the total $900 million bid. Ricketts has a World Series title to his credit, as the Cubs won the championship in 2016 defeating the Cleveland Indians four games to three.
Ricketts is an investor in Napolita (pizzeria) in Wilmette, Illinois, and was a co-owner of Higher Gear bike shops in Wilmette, Illinois and Highland Park, Illinois. Higher Gear closed in December 2017. Ricketts was a member of the board of directors of World Bicycle Relief as well as other non-profits.
Since 2013, Ricketts has been a member of the board of directors and CEO of a non-profit small government advocacy group called Ending Spending Inc. Ending Spending was founded by Joe Ricketts in 2010 to advocate against congressional earmarks.
