The Billionaire Backers
The richest Americans have so far given more to Trump than to Harris in the 2024 presidential election campaign.
As Election Day approaches, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will be judged on their personality, policies and experience.
Money is needed to get that message out to voters. And while both campaigns have raised millions from small donors and billionaires, it’s the latter whose power and influence can have an outsized impact on any potential administration.
We compiled a list of the richest Americans who’ve supported one of the presidential candidates, either in word or in deed.
Using Federal Election Commission data as of August, we looked at members of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index who’ve donated to the Harris or Trump campaigns (our methodology is explained at the bottom of this story). We also added high-profile members of the index like Elon Musk and Bill Ackman who don’t show up in the FEC data but have endorsed one of the candidates.
Among the ultra-rich, Trump comes out on top. The former president has gotten at least $24.4 million from 13 members of the wealth list. Harris’ campaign, meanwhile, has received at least $12.8 million from 20 people, including those who donated to Biden’s campaign before he stepped down. Those contributions were rolled over to her when she became the candidate.
Trump’s advantage comes down to three donors — Miriam Adelson, Diane Hendricks and Kelcy Warren — who each gave the maximum to the Trump 47 Committee and $5 million to an allied super PAC. The richest billionaire donor backing Harris is former Google Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt, who has put nearly $3 million behind her candidacy.
(Disclaimer: Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP, is a major donor to Democratic causes. He has given $19 million to Future Forward PAC and $929,600 to the Biden Victory Fund.)
Here’s who the wealthiest people in America are supporting for president, ranked by their net worth, along with some key names to watch:
CEO, Tesla
Net Worth$236.8 billion
BacksTrump
DonationMusk formally endorsed Trump after the failed assassination attempt against the former president in July. While Musk hasn’t donated directly to Trump’s campaign, he helped launch America PAC, a super political action committee supporting Trump. It has spent $45 million so far, according to FEC filings.
Chairman, Blackstone
Net Worth$45.8 billion
BacksTrump
DonationSchwarzman gave $419,600 to the Trump 47 Committee.
Majority shareholder, Las Vegas Sands
Net Worth$32.1 billion
BacksTrump
DonationAdelson gave $5 million to Preserve America PAC, which supports the re-election of Trump, and $844,600 to the Trump 47 Committee.
Former CEO, Alphabet
Net Worth$30.2 billion
BacksHarris
DonationSchmidt gave $1.6 million to Future Forward PAC, a Democratic super PAC, and $1.16 million to the Biden Victory Fund.
Co-founder, Meta Platforms
Net Worth$24.2 billion
BacksHarris
DonationMoskovitz gave $929,600 to the Biden Victory Fund.
Founder and owner, Hilcorp Energy
Net Worth$17.4 billion
BacksTrump
DonationHildebrand gave to $3,300 to Donald J. Trump for President 2024 Inc. via the Trump 47 Committee.
Daughter-in-law of Walmart founder Sam Walton
Net Worth$15.4 billion
BacksHarris
DonationWhile Walton hasn’t donated directly, she is co-hosting a fundraiser for Harris in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on Sept. 15.
Chairman, Continental Resources
Net Worth$14.3 billion
BacksTrump
DonationHamm gave $200,000 to Make America Great Again Inc., $614,000 to the Trump 47 Committee and $3,300 to Donald J. Trump for President 2024 Inc.
Former co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Net Worth$13.5 billion
BacksHarris
DonationFrench Gates gave $3,300 to Harris for President via the Harris Victory Fund.
Chairman and CEO, Fertitta Entertainment
Net Worth$13.2 billion
BacksTrump
DonationFertitta gave $407,300 to the Trump 47 Committee and $3,300 to Donald J. Trump for President 2024 Inc.
Founder and president, Beal Financial
Net Worth$13.1 billion
BacksTrump
DonationBeal gave $200,000 to Make America Great Again Inc. and $838,000 to the Trump 47 Committee.
Chairman and sole owner, ABC Supply
Net Worth$12.8 billion
BacksTrump
DonationHendricks gave $5 million to Make America Great Again Inc. and $844,600 to the Trump 47 Committee.
Daughter of Ned Johnson III, former chairman of Fidelity Investments
Net Worth$11.9 billion
BacksHarris
DonationJohnson gave $50,000 to the Biden Action Fund, $6,600 to Biden for President and $100,000 to the Biden Victory Fund.
Founder, Emerson Collective and wife of the late Steve Jobs
Net Worth$11.1 billion
BacksHarris
DonationPowell Jobs gave $929,000 to the Biden Victory Fund.
Founder and majority owner, DE Shaw & Co.
Net Worth$10.4 billion
BacksHarris
DonationShaw gave $295,700 to the Biden Action Fund.
Filmmaker
Net Worth$9.3 billion
BacksHarris
DonationSpielberg gave $929,600 to the Biden Victory Fund.
Owner, New York Jets
Net Worth$8.7 billion
BacksTrump
DonationJohnson gave $1 million to Make America Great Again Inc. and $806,300 to the Trump 47 Committee.
President and chief operating officer, Blackstone
Net Worth$7.9 billion
BacksHarris
DonationGray gave $50,000 to the Biden Action Fund. He also gave $413,000 to the Harris Action Fund when she became the Democratic frontrunner, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Shareholder, Stryker Corp.
Net Worth$7.9 billion
BacksHarris
DonationStryker gave $1.05 million to the Biden Victory Fund.
Former chief scientist and vice president, Renaissance Technologies
Net Worth$7.8 billion
BacksHarris
DonationLaufer gave $500,000 to American Bridge 21st Century, a Democratic super PAC, as well as $1.26 million to the Biden Victory Fund and $419,600 to the Biden Action Fund.
Founder and CEO, Pershing Square
Net Worth$7.7 billion
BacksTrump
DonationAckman endorsed Trump on X after the failed assassination attempt but has not yet donated to his campaign.
Co-owner, Dallas Mavericks
Net Worth$7.6 billion
BacksHarris
DonationCuban signed the “VCs for Kamala” pledge but has not yet donated to her campaign.
Founder, TD Ameritrade
Net Worth$7.6 billion
BacksTrump
DonationRicketts gave $824,600 to the Trump 47 Committee.
Co-founder, Airbnb
Net Worth$7.4 billion
BacksHarris
DonationGebbia gave $20,000 to the Biden Victory Fund.
Chairman and co-founder, Kleiner Perkins
Net Worth$7.4 billion
BacksHarris
DonationDoerr gave $832,600 to the Biden Action Fund.
President and chairman, Majestic Realty
Net Worth$7.3 billion
BacksTrump
DonationRoski gave $100,000 to the Trump 47 Committee.
Co-founder, Home Depot
Net Worth$7.2 billion
BacksTrump
DonationMarcus gave $1 million to Make America Great Again Inc. and $844,600 to the Trump 47 Committee.
Chairman and largest shareholder, Energy Transfer LP
Net Worth$7.1 billion
BacksTrump
DonationWarren gave $5 million to Make America Great Again Inc. and $814,600 to the Trump 47 Committee.
Chairman and CEO, Rollins Inc.
Net Worth$7.1 billion
BacksTrump
DonationRollins gave $12,500 to the Trump 47 Committee.
Wife of the late Ross Perot
Net Worth$6.8 billion
BacksHarris
DonationPerot gave $20,000 to the Biden Victory Fund.
Former executive vice chairman, Blackstone
Net Worth$6.5 billion
BacksHarris
DonationJames gave $100,000 to the Biden Action Fund.
Son of investor and music composer J. Paul Getty
Net Worth$6.5 billion
BacksHarris
DonationGetty gave $929,000 to the Biden Victory Fund.
Founder, Soros Fund Management
Net Worth$6.5 billion
BacksHarris
DonationSoros gave $903,000 to the Biden Victory Fund and $6,600 to Biden for President. His Democracy PAC, which he uses to make large donations, has also given more than $15 million to Future Forward PAC.
Co-founder and executive vice president, SAS Institute
Net Worth$6.4 billion
BacksHarris
DonationSall gave $82,600 to the Biden Victory Fund.
Reed Hastings
Co-founder, Netflix
Net Worth$5.9 billion
BacksHarris
DonationHastings gave $100,000 to the Biden Victory Fund.
James Cox Chambers
Shareholder, Cox Enterprises
Net Worth$5.7 billion
BacksHarris
DonationChambers gave $200,000 to the Biden Victory Fund.
Katharine Rayner
Shareholder, Cox Enterprises
Net Worth$5.7 billion
BacksHarris
DonationRayner gave $300,000 to the Biden Victory Fund.
Ones to Watch
CEO, Meta Platforms
Net Worth$177.9 billion
Quote“My goal is to be neutral and not play a role one way or another — or to even appear to be playing a role,” Zuckerberg said in a letter to the House Judiciary Committee.
Co-founder, Microsoft
Net Worth$156.9 billion
Quote“I think it’s great to have somebody who’s younger, who can think about things like AI and how we shape that in the right way,” Gates said of Harris in an interview with France 24.
Chairman, Berkshire Hathaway
Net Worth$144.9 billion
FactBuffett is a long-time Democratic supporter who appeared onstage with Hillary Clinton during the 2016 race. Since then, however, he’s avoided donating to federal political candidates as he aimed to spare his companies and employees from any potential backlash.
Koch Industries
Net Worth$66.7 billion
FactA long-time Republican supporter, Koch spent millions to support Nikki Haley through his Americans for Prosperity Action super PAC. However, it cut off funding in February when it became clear she was unlikely to become the Republican nominee.
Co-founder, Susquehanna International Group
Net Worth$46.5 billion
FactJeff Yass wrote an op-ed favoring Trump in the Wall Street Journal in April. He said that he preferred Trump’s position on school choice, one of Yass’s pet issues — but that he didn’t plan to donate directly to Trump’s campaign. Still, Yass is one of the largest donors in the 2024 election cycle, primarily to conservative groups like the anti-tax Club for Growth Action.
CEO, Citadel
Net Worth$41.8 billion
FactGriffin spent tens of millions of dollars backing Republican congressional candidates across the country. He supported Nikki Haley in the Republican presidential primary. So far, he hasn’t contributed to the Trump campaign.
CEO, Fidelity Investments
Net Worth$35.2 billion
FactJohnson attended a fundraiser for President Joe Biden in May before he dropped out of the race.
Founding partner, Founders Fund
Net Worth$11.3 billion
Quote“If you hold a gun to my head, I’ll vote for Trump,” Thiel said in an interview at the Aspen Ideas Festival in June. “I’m not going to give any money to his super PAC.”
Former chairman, News Corp.
Net Worth$10.5 billion
FactMurdoch, who has a fraught relationship with Trump and backed Ron DeSantis in the Republican primaries, was at the Republican National Convention in July.
Chairman and CIO, Duquesne Family Office
Net Worth$10 billion
FactDruckenmiller funded Haley’s primary campaign against Trump.
