根据一份对竞选财务文件的分析，在筹资总额中，亿万富翁们至少捐赠了6.95亿美元，占本次选举周期募集资金总额的18%左右。1. In the list of about 800 American billionaires compiled by Forbes, at least 144 people are using their wealth to support the 2024 US elections; 2. As of mid-October, the two candidates' groups had raised over 3.8 billion US dollars, making it the largest fundraising before an election in history; 3. About one-third of the funds raised by Trump come from billionaires, while Harris's proportion is only 6%.
On October 28th, the richest group of people in the United States is spending billions of dollars to support the candidates they have in mind to take over the White House, which could help rewrite the outcome of the US presidential election.
In the final days before the election, both Harris and Trump are neck and neck in terms of donation amounts. As of mid-October, the candidates' campaign teams and related groups have raised over 3.8 billion US dollars, which will be the largest pre-election fundraising in history.
According to an analysis of campaign financial documents, billionaires have donated at least 0.695 billion US dollars, accounting for around 18% of the total fundraising for this election cycle.
Neck and neck.
Currently, Republican candidate Trump relies heavily on America's elite groups. About one-third of the funds raised by his campaign team and allied groups come from billionaires. In contrast, the proportion of funds raised by allies of Democratic candidate Harris is about 6%.
Overall, in the list of about 800 American billionaires compiled by Forbes, at least 144 people are using their wealth to support the 2024 election.
These numbers highlight a significant increase in the amount of cash entering US politics since the 2010 Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The lawsuit in 2010 ultimately allowed individuals to make unrestricted donations to super PACs independent of official campaigns.
According to statistics, as of October 16, Harris's campaign team raised $1.76 billion in funds, while Trump's campaign team raised $0.98 billion. If including super PACs, the gap between the two groups has significantly decreased, reaching $2.15 billion and $1.68 billion respectively.
However, due to the anonymity of individuals donating to some non-profit organizations, campaign filings may underestimate the total amount of donations from super wealthy donors. For example, last week it was reported that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates privately stated that he donated $50 million to a non-profit organization supporting Harris, but this amount has not yet appeared in any public financial disclosures.
The Billionaire Behind
Groups supporting Trump have received at least $0.568 billion from billionaires, accounting for 34% of his campaign fundraising. The majority - around $0.432 billion (76%) - comes from four donors.
Tim Mellon is one of the largest donors during the 2024 election cycle, donating $0.15 billion to Trump's super PAC Make America Great Again (MAGA) Inc. Due to his reclusive lifestyle, he is considered relatively low-profile in Trump's circle. Mellon has previously donated to the Republican party; in 2020, he donated over $50 million to Texas Governor Greg Abbott for building a border wall, a contribution significantly lower than his donation to the Trump group this year.
The world's richest man, Elon Musk, has donated over $0.118 billion to the America Pac supporting Trump and this amount is expected to increase. Despite Musk currently being the CEO of multiple companies, since officially endorsing Trump, he has devoted a considerable amount of time to the election, rallying voters in key swing states like Pennsylvania and continuously posting on his social media platforms to campaign for Trump.
The widow of American entrepreneur Sheldon Adelson, Miriam Adelson, has donated over $0.1 billion to the Preserve America Pac supporting Trump. She is the founder of Las Vegas Sands and reportedly has a net worth exceeding $34 billion according to Forbes. In 2018, Trump awarded Adelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the USA.
Billionaire founders of shipping and packaging company Uline, Liz and Dick Uihlein, have donated nearly $70 million to the Restoration Pac supporting Trump, and $10 million to MAGA Inc. Liz has expressed dissatisfaction with the inflation and immigration under the Biden administration, as well as regret over the inability of the USA to prevent Houthi attacks on the Red Sea. These factors favor Trump, although she has reserved her judgment on his personality.
The other candidate, Harris, received approximately 0.127 billion US dollars (about 6%) of her funds from billionaire donations, a proportion much lower than Trump's. They include:
Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz donated 38 million US dollars to the super PAC supporting Harris, Future Forward, and over 1 million US dollars to other groups supporting the Vice President. According to Forbes, Moskovitz's net assets are 15 billion US dollars. He has been outspoken in criticizing Elon Musk, who supports Trump, and opposes Musk's stance on self-driving cars.
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman has become one of Kamala Harris's biggest donors. Hoffman donated 10 million US dollars to support Harris's Future Forward, and 6 million US dollars to the Republican Accountability Pac. Hoffman has described Trump's economic plans, including broad tariffs, as inflationary and has threatened to target businesses that do not follow his instructions if Trump wins the election.
Bloomberg LP founder and former Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg donated 19 million US dollars to Future Forward when the candidate was still Biden, as he helped Biden win in 2019. However, since Harris replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee, he has not publicly donated to Harris. Recent reports indicate discussions with Gates regarding multi-million dollar private donations.
Editor/Somer
