Americans with very deep pockets have contributed millions of dollars to both Democrats and Republicans in this election cycle. In that group of well-heeled donors, some stand above the rest.
The following are the individuals who have donated the most money to federal candidates and committees this election cycle — 2023-2024 — according to an analysis by OpenSecrets, a nonprofit research group that tracks money in national politics.
The analysis is based on data current as of Sept. 21, 2024.
10. Sheldon G. and Miriam O. Adelson
Federal contributions:
- In total: $25,419,400
- To Democrats: $0
- To Republicans: $25,414,400
Sheldon Adelson was the former CEO and chairman of Las Vegas Sands, a casino company. He died in 2021, but OpenSecrets still lists him alongside his widow in their analysis.
His widow, Miriam, and her family now own more than half of the company. She also has a majority stake in the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
9. Fred Eychaner
Federal contributions:
- In total: $25,723,400
- To Democrats: $25,723,400
- To Republicans: $0
Fred Eychaner is a Chicago-based entrepreneur and chairman of Newsweb Corp. He also is president of the Alphawood Foundation, a grant-making private foundation that promotes an “equitable, just, and humane society,” according to its website.
8. Reid Garrett Hoffman
Federal contributions:
- In total: $30,757,500
- To Democrats: $24,075,100
- To Republicans: $150,000
Reid Hoffman is co-founder of LinkedIn and a partner at the venture capital firm Greylock Partners. He is also an investor in Airbnb and the autonomous-driving company Aurora.
7. Rob Bigelow
Federal contributions:
- In total: $34,981,500
- To Democrats: $0
- To Republicans: $34,981,500
Rob Bigelow is a hotelier who owns Budget Suites of America. He also is the founder of Bigelow Aerospace, which focuses on “achieving economic breakthroughs in the costs associated with the design, development, and construction of habitable space structures.”
6. Michael R. Bloomberg
Federal contributions:
- In total: $41,512,234
- To Democrats: $41,512,234
- To Republicans: $0
Michael Bloomberg is the former mayor of New York City and co-founder of Bloomberg LP. He briefly ran for president in 2020 and is a major philanthropist.
5. Paul E. Singer
Federal contributions:
- In total: $45,799,100
- To Democrats: $0
- To Republicans: $43,794,100
Paul Singer is a hedge fund magnate and dealmaker. He is well-known for eventually winning a 15-year fight with the government of Argentina over bond payments.
4. Richard and Elizabeth A. Uihlein
Federal contributions:
- In total: $74,388,644
- To Democrats: $0
- To Republicans: $74,361,914
Richard Uihlein is a descendant of the family that founded Schlitz beer. He also founded Uline — which sells shipping and packing supplies — with his wife, Elizabeth.
3. Kenneth C. Griffin
Federal contributions:
- In total: $75,408,884
- To Democrats: $0
- To Republicans: $75,405,484
Ken Griffin founded the hedge fund firm Citadel. As a student at Harvard University in 1987, he put a satellite dish on the roof of his dorm building so he could trade stocks.
2. Jeffrey S. and Janine Yass
Federal contributions:
- In total: $79,678,680
- To Democrats: $1,500
- To Republicans: $78,872,180
Jeff Yass is the co-founder of one of the largest trading firms on Wall Street, Susquehanna International Group. Before trading in stocks, he was a professional gambler.
1. Timothy Mellon
Federal contributions:
- In total: $165,043,900
- To Democrats: $3,700
- To Republicans: $140,032,600
Timothy Mellon founded a computer programming company in the 1960s and took over freight railroads on the East Coast in the 1980s. He is the great-grandson of banker Thomas Mellon — who founded Mellon Bank — and grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon.
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