Rick Heidner

Rick Heidner (born c. 1960) is an American businessman, real estate developer, and politician from Illinois. He is the founder and chairman of Gold Rush Gaming and Heidner Properties, a real estate group that manages over 280 properties across the United States. In October 2025, Heidner announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2026 Illinois gubernatorial election.

Early life and education

Heidner was raised in a low income household in Illinois. His mother worked as a waitress. He began his own business ventures as a teenager by placing vending machines and jukeboxes in local establishments. Heidner also Delivered newspapers, shoveled snow, was a maintenance worker and created J.J. Peppers Food Stores which built up to 24 stores. Heidner was raised in Northlake, Illinois, and attended West Leyden High School, graduating in 1977. In 2025, he was inducted into the school district's Wall of Fame in recognition of his business career and philanthropic work. Heidner opted for a practical approach to education over traditional academic routes, taking selective business courses while focusing on direct industry experience.

Career

Heidner is the chairman of Heidner Properties, which owns and manages a portfolio of over 280 commercial properties valued at over $1 billion. In 2022, he acquired The Arboretum of South Barrington, a 484,000-square-foot open air shopping center, for approximately $67 million following a foreclosure on the previous owner Starwood Capital Group; the center serves as a major asset for his firm. His real estate holdings also include the Field of Dreams development. In 2021, Heidner partnered with Hall of Famer Frank Thomas to acquire the site of the 1989 film Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, with plans for a multi-field youth sports complex. The site was later sold to a nonprofit group in 2025. In 2012, following the legalization of video gaming in Illinois, Heidner founded Gold Rush Gaming, which became a terminal operator licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board. The company is among the state's largest terminal slot operators, servicing over 700 locations including bars, restaurants, and gas stations. In a 2025 interview with Forbes, Heidner argued that the future of the sector relies on in-person social interaction and community-based establishments rather than virtual or isolated gaming environments. His other business ventures include Ricky Rockets Fuel Centers, a chain of convenience stores and fuel stations, and Prairie State Energy, a wholesale fuel supplier and energy solutions provider.

2026 gubernatorial campaign

On October 21, 2025, Heidner filed paperwork to seek the Republican nomination for Governor of Illinois. He is running on a ticket with Christina Neitzke-Troike, the Mayor of Homer Glen, as his candidate for lieutenant governor. Heidner has reportedly committed over $1 million of his personal wealth to fund his campaign. On October 21, 2025, Heidner filed paperwork to seek the Republican nomination for Governor of Illinois. He is running on a ticket with Christina Neitzke-Troike, the Mayor of Homer Glen, as his candidate for lieutenant governor. Heidner has reportedly committed over $1 million of his personal wealth to fund his campaign. In January 2026, campaign finance reports revealed that Heidner spent nearly $250,000 representing a significant portion of his initial campaign funds on a professional petition gathering operation to secure his spot on The Primary ballot. Heidner is a candidate in the Republican primary scheduled for March 17, 2026. Heidner emphasized fiscal issues, specifically advocating for significant reductions in Illinois property taxes and a restructuring of the state's business climate to prevent corporate out-migration. In interviews with CBS News, he stated that his experience as a real estate developer and business owner provided him with the necessary background to manage the state's economy more effectively than career politicians. On the debate stage, he joined other Republican candidates in criticizing the state's current approach to public safety and the SAFE-T Act, calling for more aggressive support for law enforcement.

Philanthropy

Heidner is a supporter of the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, which assists families battling pediatric cancer. Since 2021, the Heidner family has hosted an annual gala at their private residence; the 2021 event raised over $604,000 for the organization. The Heidners have been long term supporters of Shelter, Inc. (also known as Shelter Youth & Family Services), an organization Providing emergency housing and foster care for children. In 2017, the couple served as the honorary chairs for the organization’s 30th annual charity ball, which raised funds for a new group home for boys. In 2018, the Heidner family facilitated the establishment of Project H.O.P.E. House (Helping Open People's Eyes) in downtown Barrington. The family donated the home located at 231 West Main Street to the organization to serve as its permanent facility. The center provides [...] prevention, mental health assessments, and referral services for students, veterans, and local residents. The facility specifically operates early morning hours to provide a safe space for teenagers before the start of the school day.

Personal life

Heidner is married and has five children. He lives in Barrington Hills, Illinois.