08/26/2024
Meet the megadonors pumping millions into the 2024 election
By Clara Ence Morse, Luis Melgar and Maeve Reston
August 26, 2024 at 5:05 a.m.
The 50 biggest donors this cycle have collectively pumped $1.5 billion into political committees and other groups competing in the election, according to a Washington Post analysis of Federal Election Commission data.
The vast majority of money from top donors has gone to super PACs, which can accept unlimited sums from individuals and often work closely with campaigns despite rules against coordinating their advertising.
Top individual donors
From billionaire investors to shipping magnates, these megadonors skew Republican, though they affiliate with both parties. Here’s who they are and their top donations.
1
Timothy Mellon Republican
Railroad magnate and heir
Total large donations: $165M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN INC.
$125M
Supports Donald Trump’s presidential campaign
AMERICAN VALUES 2024
$25M
Supports Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND
$10M
Supports Republican House candidates
The reclusive Wyoming-based businessman is the scion of former Treasury secretary and banking tycoon Andrew Mellon.
2
Kenneth Griffin Republican
Hedge fund manager
Total large donations: $75.7M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND
$15M
Supports Republican House candidates
KEYSTONE RENEWAL PAC
$10M
Supports Senate campaign for Republican Dave McCormick (Pa.)
MARYLAND'S FUTURE
$10M
Supports Senate campaign for Republican Larry Hogan (Md.)
The billionaire is founder and CEO of the hedge fund Citadel.
3
Jeff & Janine Yass Republican
Financier and education advocate
Total large donations: $73.9M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
CLUB FOR GROWTH ACTION
$20.5M
Right-leaning super PAC
PROTECT FREEDOM POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
$14M
Conservative PAC funded by Jeff Yass’s company
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND
$10M
Supports Republican House candidates
Jeff is co-founder of the Pennsylvania-based investment company Susquehanna International Group. His wife, Janine, founded a charter school and is an advocate for school choice.
4
Richard & Elizabeth Uihlein Republican
Shipping magnates
Total large donations: $70.7M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
RESTORATION PAC
$20.9M
Opposes Senate campaign of Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.)
CLUB FOR GROWTH ACTION
$14M
Right-leaning super PAC
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN INC.
$10M
Supports Donald Trump’s presidential campaign
The couple founded Uline, a Wisconsin-based shipping and packaging materials company. They give to causes outside the GOP's mainstream, helping to push the party further to the right.
5
Michael Bloomberg Democrat
Former mayor of New York City
Total large donations: $41M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
FF PAC
$19M
Supports Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign
HMP
$10M
Supports Democratic House candidates
EVERYTOWN-DEMAND A SEAT PAC
$7M
Supports pro gun-control candidates
Bloomberg is co-founder of the financial software and media company that bears his name. He served as mayor of New York for three terms and ran for president in 2020.
6
Paul Singer Republican
Hedge fund manager and activist investor
Total large donations: $40.9M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND
$12.5M
Supports Republican House candidates
SENATE LEADERSHIP FUND
$12M
Supports Republican Senate candidates
SFA FUND INC
$5M
Supported Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign
The billionaire is founder and co-CEO of Elliott Management.
7
Robert Bigelow Republican
Hotel magnate
Total large donations: $35M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
NEVER BACK DOWN INC.
$20M
Supported Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN INC.
$14.2M
Supports Donald Trump’s presidential campaign
The Las Vegas-based businessman owns Budget Suites of America. He was initially the largest individual donor to a super PAC supporting the presidential bid of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, but he ultimately backed Donald Trump.
8
Reid Hoffman & Michelle Yee Democrat
Tech founder and philanthropist
Total large donations: $31.6M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
FF PAC
$10M
Supports Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign
REPUBLICAN ACCOUNTABILITY PAC
$6M
Left-leaning super PAC
ONE FOR ALL COMMITTEE
$2.3M
Left-leaning super PAC
Hoffman is the co-founder of LinkedIn and a prolific Silicon Valley investor. The couple are major philanthropists.
9
Fred Eychaner Democrat
Media executive
Total large donations: $26.4M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
HMP
$8M
Supports Democratic House candidates
SMP
$8M
Supports Democratic Senate candidates
FF PAC
$7M
Supports Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign
Eychaner is the founder of Newsweb, a printer of newspapers and owner of several Chicago-based radio stations.
10
James & Marilyn Simons Democrat
Deceased hedge fund manager and philanthropist wife
Total large donations: $24.4M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
FF PAC
$9.6M
Supports Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign
SMP
$7.5M
Supports Democratic Senate candidates
HMP
$6M
Supports Democratic House candidates
James passed away in May of this year. He was founder of the hedge fund Renaissance Technologies. Alongside wife Marilyn, he started the Simons Foundation.
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Top 10 organizations
While most of the top 50 donors are individuals, the list also includes more than a dozen organizations that have collectively donated hundreds of millions of dollars to support Republican and Democratic groups.
1
Coinbase Both
Cryptocurrency firm
Total large donations: $91.1M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
FAIRSHAKE
$86M
Pro-crypto super PAC
DEFEND AMERICAN JOBS
$1.5M
Pro-crypto super PAC supporting Republicans
PROTECT PROGRESS
$1.5M
Pro-crypto super PAC supporting Democrats
The company, which operates a cryptocurrency exchange platform, has largely given to three connected pro-crypto PACs: the bipartisan Fairshake, the left-leaning Protect Progress, and the right-leaning Defend American Jobs.
2
Empower Parents PAC Republican
Republican-aligned state PAC
Total large donations: $82.5M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
NEVER BACK DOWN INC.
$82.5M
Supported Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign
This Florida state-level political action committee was once known as “Friends of Ron DeSantis.” It contributed a whopping $82.5 million to a super PAC supporting DeSantis’s presidential bid in early 2023.
3
Fund for Policy Reform Democrat
George Soros-linked nonprofit
Total large donations: $60M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
DEMOCRACY PAC
$60M
Soros-linked liberal super PAC
This 501(c)(4) is largely funded by liberal billionaire and philanthropist George Soros. It has given to PACs supporting liberal causes.
4
Future Forward USA Action Democrat
Democratic-aligned nonprofit
Total large donations: $55.9M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
FF PAC
$55.9M
Supports Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign
The liberal 501(c)(4) has largely transferred money into its affiliated FF PAC, the leading super PAC supporting Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign.
5
Ripple Labs Both
Cryptocurrency firm
Total large donations: $49M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
FAIRSHAKE
$45M
Pro-crypto super PAC
DEFEND AMERICAN JOBS
$1.5M
Pro-crypto super PAC supporting Republicans
PROTECT PROGRESS
$1.5M
Pro-crypto super PAC supporting Democrats
The tech company, formerly known as Opencoin, is known for developing direct-transfer software. It has predominantly funded pro-crypto PACs.
6
AH Capital Management Both
Venture capital firm
Total large donations: $48.5M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
FAIRSHAKE
$44M
Pro-crypto super PAC
DEFEND AMERICAN JOBS
$1.5M
Pro-crypto super PAC supporting Republicans
PROTECT PROGRESS
$1.5M
Pro-crypto super PAC supporting Democrats
Marc Andreesen and Ben Horowitz are co-founders and partners of the venture capital firm that bears their initials. Their firm has largely given to pro-crypto super PACs like Fairshake. In July they endorsed Trump.
7
Koch Industries Republican
Kansas-based industrial conglomerate
Total large donations: $43.3M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY ACTION INC. (AFP ACTION)
$40M
Koch-linked conservative super PAC
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND
$1.8M
Supports Republican House candidates
SENATE LEADERSHIP FUND
$1.5M
Supports Republican Senate candidates
Charles Koch serves as chairman of this company, which made him and his late brother David into billionaires.
8
Majority Forward Democrat
Democratic-aligned nonprofit
Total large donations: $32.3M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
SMP
$15.8M
Supports Democratic Senate candidates
LAST BEST PLACE PAC
$12.5M
Supports Senate campaign for Jon Tester (D-Mont.)
DUTY AND COUNTRY
$4.1M
Supports Senate campaign for Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)
The Democratic-aligned 501(c)(4) is associated with Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and his Senate-focused PAC.
9
League of Conservation Voters Democrat
Environmental advocacy nonprofit
Total large donations: $27.5M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
LCV VICTORY FUND
$27.3M
Supports environmentalist candidates
The group has focused on electing pro-environment Democrats at the federal and state level across the country. It has proved to be a powerful counterweight to the oil and gas industry in key races.
10
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Democrat
Building trades union
Total large donations: $26.4M
0
Top donor: $165M
Top donations
WORKING FOR WORKING AMERICANS - FEDERAL
$25.4M
PAC backed by building trades unions
STRATEGIC VICTORY FUND IE PAC
$1M
PAC backed by building trades unions
One of the largest unions in America, it represents many construction professionals and has endorsed Kamala Harris for president.
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Explore the full list of the top 50 donors in the 2024 general election below.
The top 50 donors
About this story
The Washington Post analyzed all contributions to federal political committees since Jan. 1, 2023, that were reported to the Federal Election Commission as of Aug. 20, 2024. Direct independent expenditures and loans are not included. Donations made by federal political action committees are not part of the list of top donors. This tally will be updated periodically.
Editing by Kate Rabinowitz, Anu Narayanswamy and Annah Aschbrenner. Copy editing by Anne Kenderdine.
