Your MoneyMONEY WATCH

Obama center's $1 billion price tag now has a $300 million starting…

Chicago's Jackson Park site was chosen in 2016, and years of costly building delays have pushed the price past triple the original estimate; free samples end somewhere.

On air: Gloria Vance and Hank Ledger on The Midday Show
Published 12:49 PM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

Photo: AlphaBeta135 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ Short · Your Money

The Short: the best minute of this segment, cut vertical for your thumb. More about this Short

Photo: Barack Obama Presidential Center — Photo: AlphaBeta135 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by Washington Examiner: “Obama presidential center’s costs balloon to $1 billion after initial $300 million estimate”, with reporting from Fox News.
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 12:49 PM ET on The Midday Show, by Gloria Vance and Hank Ledger.
Topics: Obama, Chicago.
BBN covered this story before: Obama Presidential Center cost nearly triples to $1 billion (October 15).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

Washington ExaminerObama presidential center’s costs balloon to $1 billion after initial $300 million estimate
Fox NewsObama's billion-dollar baby: Chicago center's price tag hits monumental milestone, tripling original estimate

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorGlue. Of course it was glue.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNow, a new story and a new outlet.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe Washington Examiner says the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago is heading for a billion dollars after an initial estimate of three hundred million, following years of costly delays.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI've watched governments overrun their budgets on three continents. Rarely did they do it next to a lagoon.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThat's the original quote, and now it's a billion. It's like the contractor said three grand for the bathroom and then found a second bathroom.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe seven hundred million difference is the 'while we're in here' fee.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSeven hundred million.

▶ Watch BBN liveMore Your Money →

More Shorts

All videos →

Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · Your MoneyTrump recycles a weird argument on gas pricesRead the story
▶ As it aired · Your MoneyAI credit jitters drive US tech default insurance to record highsRead the story
▶ Hot Take or Not · U.S.Amazon Acetaminophen Recall: Shaking the Bottle Is Not InspectionAbout this segment
Photo: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
▶ As it aired · Your Money'Big Condiment' warning gets Warren roasted online over prioritiesRead the story
Photo: Robert Hsiao · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
▶ As it aired · Your MoneyCalifornia police department hit by mass layoffs, including top…Read the story
▶ Hot Take or Not · U.S.NFL Week 6 Upsets: Never Trust a Favorite, Fear the DrizzleAbout this segment
Photo: Hongreddotbrewhouse · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
▶ As it aired · Your MoneyMidterm campaigns confront rising beef pricesRead the story
Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · Your MoneyTrump says 'we're richer now' as inflation report runs hotRead the story
▶ This Day in History · Pop CultureAir India's First Flight: Anchor Claims She Was in the Back RowAbout this segment
Photo: AlphaBeta135 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · Your MoneyObama Presidential Center cost nearly triples to $1 billionRead the story