Harris or Trump? The Billionaires’ Dilemma in the U.S. and Their Monetary Contributions
Supporters of Trump and Harris Among US Billionaires
As the race for the U.S.
presidency heats up ahead of the November elections, attention is turning to the financial backing received by the leading candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
Following the first televised debate, the count of financial supporters begins, with significant contributions being assembled.
Using data from the Federal Election Commission as of August, Bloomberg analysts have scrutinized the Bloomberg Billionaires Index members who donated to either Trump’s or Harris’s campaigns.
Notable figures such as Elon Musk and Bill Ackman, even if not recorded by the FEC, are acknowledged for their support of Trump.
Financial Contributions to Trump
Trump has amassed considerable support, with over 24.4 million dollars from 13 billionaire contributors.
Among them is Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who has reportedly donated 45 million dollars.
Other notable donors include Stephan Schwarzman from Blackstone, who contributed 419,600 dollars, and Miriam Adelson, who donated 5 million dollars to PACs supporting Trump.
The backing continues with affluent figures like Harold Hamm, who provided significant funds across multiple contributions, totaling over 800,000 dollars.
Trump’s advantage draws heavily from a few key donors, particularly Adelson, Diane Hendricks, and Kelcy Warren, who have each donated 5 million dollars to various Trump committees.
Harris’s Financial Support
On the other side, Harris has raised substantial funds, especially following Biden’s exit, totaling around 81 million dollars.
Her principal billionaire supporter is Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, who contributed approximately 3 million dollars.
Other significant contributors include the likes of Dustin Moskovitz of Meta Platforms and Melinda French Gates, each giving noteworthy amounts to her campaign.
Harris’s financial backing reflects a broad network of affluent individuals, including directors and co-founders from prominent companies.
The political landscape shows divisions among billionaires, with some leaning towards Trump’s conservative values while others invest in Harris’s more liberal agenda.
Influence of Billionaires in Politics
The growing influence of billionaires in political campaigns has sparked discussions about the impact of wealth on democracy.
Prominent figures like Bill Gates have spoken highly of Harris’s capability to tackle key issues such as artificial intelligence.
Meanwhile, Warren Buffett maintains his longstanding support for Democratic causes without direct contributions to candidates, highlighting the complexities surrounding political endorsements.
