Rick Jackson’s business portfolio extends well beyond the health care staffing company that made him famous, encompassing investments in oil, films, firearms financing and other ventures — a sprawling set of interests that could complicate his work if he becomes Georgia’s governor. Jackson, an Atlanta native and former foster-care resident, entered the Republican race for governor in February. His fortune is estimated at about $3 billion, though public disclosures do not provide a complete accounting of his wealth or investments. Jackson Healthcare, the Alpharetta-based holding company at the center of his business empire, includes dozens of specialized firms involved in staffing, recruiting, consulting and other health care services. A review of business records, legal filings and campaign finance reports also identified investments outside health care, including oil projects, movie production and an artificial-intelligence company. His companies have received more than $1 billion in federal contracts across a dozen agencies, according to the records reviewed. That includes about $364 million in contracts over the past five years. Jackson Healthcare also secured emergency staffing contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic, when hospitals faced surging demand for workers. The scale of the business interests raises a practical question for voters: Could decisions made by a governor affect companies in which Jackson has a financial stake? A governor can influence state budgets, economic incentives, regulations and contracting, although the extent of any direct effect would depend on the companies and policies involved. Jackson has said he makes the decisions in his businesses. In testimony cited in the records review, he described investing in and lending money to companies, including an oil refinery project on the Texas Gulf Coast. He also testified that an artificial-intelligence investment returned at least $75 million. The Jackson campaign says he would focus on the governor’s responsibilities and comply with state ethics requirements. But the campaign had not said whether he would place his business interests in a blind trust, which could limit his ability to know how government decisions might affect his holdings. Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms has called the potential conflicts unprecedented and said Georgians deserve transparency. Political scientist Matthew Gunning of Georgia College said a governor’s decisions could affect businesses even without direct dealings between the state and a company, particularly through broad policy choices. Former federal inspector general Mark Lee Greenblatt has also cautioned that wealthy business leaders can face challenges separating private interests from public duties. The issue is not unique to Jackson, but the breadth of his holdings could make it difficult to identify every possible overlap. The campaign says Jackson would strengthen state rules against self-dealing. Whether he would divest, use a blind trust or adopt another safeguard remains unresolved — leaving voters to weigh both his business record and how he would manage potential conflicts in office.