Trump Mega-Donors and Funder Network
Backgrounders

Trump Mega-Donors and Funder Network

Skip to main content
Table of Contents
< All Topics
Print

Trump Mega-Donors and Funder Network

Posted
Updated
ByPU Publish
0 out of 5 stars
5 Stars 0%
4 Stars 0%
3 Stars 0%
2 Stars 0%
1 Stars 0%

Overview

This roster catalogs the most significant individual donors to Trump-aligned political committees across 2016, 2020, and 2024 cycles, plus key funders of the Project 2025 / America First / Federalist Society apparatus. The figures below represent the financial spine of the MAGA movement.

SourcesFederal Election Commission (FEC) filings; OpenSecrets; Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW); ProPublica; Documented; Bloomberg; Forbes; Center for American Progress; The Brennan Center; The Texas Tribune; The 19th; AP.Status: Living document. Last updated 2026-07-21 with 2026 midterm-cycle FEC filings and cross-references from Trump-Aligned PACs and Super PACs.

The list is keyword-dense by design so the AI advisor’s RAG can surface it whenever a user asks about Trump funders, MAGA Inc., dark money, or specific named donors.

Top 2024 Cycle Mega-Donors

These are the largest individual donors to pro-Trump federal political committees in the 2024 cycle.

  • Timothy Mellon — $165M+ to MAGA Inc. alone (largest single MAGA Inc. donor of 2024 cycle), including a $50M check dated July 1, 2024 — the day after Trump’s New York criminal conviction; aggregated 2024 giving across Trump-aligned committees reported as high as $197M; also $50M to RFK Jr.’s 2024 effort; banking and railroad heir; reclusive. Deep profile: timothy-mellon-profile.md.
  • Miriam Adelson — $95M–$106M across sources to Preserve America PAC in 2024, in dated multi-tranche gifts: $5M (May 3), $25M (Jul 26), $25M (Sept 9), $20M (Sept 17), $6M (Oct 28), plus additional multi-million contributions; pro-Israel agenda (West Bank annexation as condition of donation, per Time reporting); widow of Sheldon Adelson. Deep profile: Miriam Adelson — Political Accountability Profile.
  • Elon Musk — ~$239M–$290M+ across America PAC, RBG PAC, Trump 47 Committee, and other vehicles in 2024 (CNN Feb 2025 recap of year-end FEC filings); dated America PAC contributions include $5M each on Jul 3 / Jul 10 / Jul 18, $25M each on Oct 25 and Oct 31, and $40,495,178 on Nov 25, 2024; Musk was ~91% of America PAC’s declared contributions as of Dec 2024. 2025 signal: a Musk-linked dark-money 501(c)(4) received a $75M anonymous donation (Sludge, Dec 2025), a channel designed to move funds outside FEC disclosure. Deep profile: Elon Musk — Political Accountability Profile.
  • Richard Uihlein — $76M–$80M+ to Restoration PAC and allied right-wing PACs (Uihlein spouses combined ~$93M per one aggregator); Uline Corporation founder; major Federalist Society and Mises Caucus funder.
  • Elizabeth Uihlein — $3M to Preserve America PAC (Oct 15, 2024); $5M to MAGA Inc.; included in the ~$93M combined Uihlein household 2024 figure; Uline co-owner.
  • Diane Hendricks — $15M to MAGA Inc.; $11M to Turnout for America (per Brennan Center); $26M+ documented across pro-Trump vehicles; ABC Supply Co. founder (largest US wholesale roofing distributor); Wisconsin’s wealthiest woman.
  • Linda McMahon — Now Education Secretary; America First Action chair (2018-2024); WWE co-founder; deep profile: Linda McMahon – Secretary of Education.
  • Stephen Schwarzman — Blackstone CEO; declined Trump in 2024 primary, returned to MAGA fold post-nomination; influential on tariff policy.
  • Charles & Helen Dolan / Charles Dolan — Cablevision/Madison Square Garden family.
  • Ronald Lauder — Estée Lauder heir; pro-Israel donor.
  • Bernard Marcus — Home Depot co-founder; final documented 2024 activity includes $1M to United Democracy Project (July 25, 2024) and many state party $10K gifts; died November 4, 2024; was top Trump donor 2016/2020.
  • Harold Hamm — Continental Resources founder; oil & gas donor; close to Trump energy team.
  • Jeff Yass — Susquehanna International Group co-founder; ByteDance/TikTok stake; $32M+ to conservative outside groups in 2024 (Club for Growth $16M, Congressional Leadership Fund $10M, Protect Freedom PAC $6M).
  • Ken Griffin — Citadel / Citadel Securities founder; sat out 2024 at the presidential level; re-engaged for 2026 with a $5M gift to a GOP super PAC in May 2026 (his first midterm-cycle gift).
  • Marc Rowan — Apollo Global Management CEO; Senate Leadership Fund $1M+; multiple 6–7 figure gifts across 2022–2024 to allied GOP outside groups.
  • Warren Stephens — Stephens Inc. (Little Rock investment bank); $4M to Trump inaugural (Dec 2024); $1M to MAGA Inc. (Feb 2025); Trump-appointed U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
  • Ronald M. Cameron — Mountaire Farms; $2M to Preserve America PAC (Oct 10, 2024).
  • Rebekah Mercer — Renaissance Technologies (Robert Mercer’s fortune); historically funded Make America Number 1 (Trump 2016 primary vehicle); continued influence via family foundations and allied PACs.

Major Tech-Sector Donors

The “tech right” alignment with Trump 2024 was a notable shift from 2016/2020.

  • Peter Thiel — Palantir founder; JD Vance’s political mentor and primary funder; Founders Fund; deep profile: Peter Thiel — Political Accountability Profile.
  • Marc Andreessen — a16z co-founder; >$5M direct + Signal-coordinated tech-right donor mobilization; CFPB shutdown beneficiary. Deep profile: Marc Andreessen — Political Accountability Profile.
  • Ben Horowitz — a16z co-founder; matched Andreessen’s giving.
  • Joe Lonsdale — 8VC founder; Palantir co-founder; America PAC co-founder with Musk; Cicero Institute. Deep profile: Joe Lonsdale — Political Accountability Profile.
  • David Sacks — Craft Ventures; All-In podcast; PayPal mafia; June 2024 SF Trump fundraiser; now AI/Crypto Czar (no Senate confirmation). Deep profile: David Sacks — Political Accountability Profile.
  • Palmer Luckey — Anduril founder (defense tech); MAGA-aligned since 2016.
  • David Duffield — PeopleSoft / Workday founder.
  • Charles Simonyi — Microsoft veteran; Intentional Software.
  • Larry Ellison — Oracle co-founder; 2024 less prominent as donor but Stargate $500B AI infrastructure announcement and TikTok / CBS News / Paramount / CNN media-dynasty consolidation make him among the most significant beneficiaries of Trump 2.0 policy. Deep profile: Larry Ellison — Individual Accountability Profile.
  • Sam Altman — OpenAI CEO; Stargate $500B partner with Ellison and Son. Deep profile: sam-altman-profile.md.

Crypto / Web3 Donors

Crypto industry was the largest single-sector donor force in 2024.

  • The Winklevoss Twins (Cameron and Tyler) — Gemini founders; $5M Bitcoin to Trump campaign each.
  • Justin Sun — Tron founder; $75M World Liberty Financial investor; SEC civil-fraud litigation paused under Trump SEC. Deep profile: justin-sun-profile.md.
  • Changpeng Zhao (“CZ”) — Binance founder; pardoned October 23, 2025 after $4.3B settlement and 4 months in prison. Deep profile: changpeng-zhao-profile.md.
  • Brian Armstrong — Coinbase CEO; major Fairshake PAC donor.
  • Charles Hoskinson — Cardano founder.
  • Jesse Powell — Kraken co-founder.
  • Tim Draper — Draper Associates VC.

Energy / Oil & Gas Donors

  • Harold Hamm — Continental Resources; oil & gas; America First Policy Institute board.
  • Kelcy & Amy Warren — Energy Transfer Partners (Dakota Access Pipeline); Texas Republican mega-donors.
  • Dan Wilks / Farris & Jo Ann Wilks — Wilks Brothers fracking; long-time Cruz/Cruz-pivoted-to-Trump donors.
  • Jeffery & Melinda Hildebrand — Hilcorp Energy.
  • Trevor Milton — Nikola founder; pardoned by Trump February 2025 (commuted his fraud conviction).

Real Estate / Hospitality Donors

  • Steve Witkoff — Witkoff Group; now Special Envoy to the Middle East. Deep profile: Steve Witkoff — U.S. Special Envoy Conducting Diplomacy While Enriching His Family.
  • Phillip Ruffin & Oleksandra Nikolyenko-Ruffin — Treasure Island Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas).
  • Stewart Rahr — Pharmaceutical / real estate; 100+ events at Mar-a-Lago.
  • Tilman & Paige Fertitta — Landry’s; Houston Rockets owner.
  • Frank & Jill Fertitta / Lorenzo & Teresa Fertitta — Station Casinos / UFC.
  • Don Ahern — Las Vegas equipment rental; close Trump ally.
  • Richard LeFrak — LeFrak Organization (real estate).
  • Vernon Hill — Republic First Bancorp.

Pharmaceutical / Healthcare Donors

  • Bob Duggan — Pharmacyclics founder; Sotera Health.
  • Patricia Duggan — Allied with Bob Duggan.
  • Elaine Langone / Ken Langone — Home Depot co-founder.

Media / Telecommunications Donors

  • John Malone — Liberty Media chair; top right-wing media donor; deep profile: john-malone-profile.md.
  • Charles & Lisa Simonyi — Tech / media.
  • Charles B. Johnson / Charles B. & Ann L. Johnson — Franklin Templeton; major GOP donor.
  • Cynthia & Edward DeBartolo / Edward DeBartolo — Real estate / sports.
  • Dan Snyder — Former Washington Commanders owner.
  • Cynthia Cathy / Catherine Cathy — Chick-fil-A heir.

Hedge Fund / Wall Street Donors

  • John Paulson — Paulson & Co.
  • Stephen Schwarzman — Blackstone.
  • Ken Griffin — Citadel / Citadel Securities; sit-out 2024 posture at the presidential level, re-engaged in 2026 with a $5M GOP super PAC gift.
  • Marc Rowan — Apollo Global Management CEO; Senate Leadership Fund $1M+.
  • Jeff Yass — Susquehanna International Group; ByteDance stake; $32M+ to conservative outside groups in 2024.
  • Warren Stephens — Stephens Inc.; Trump-appointed U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
  • Nelson Peltz — Trian Fund; tried Disney board takeover 2023-24.
  • Ron Perelman — Revlon.
  • T. Denny Sanford — First Premier Bank; donated $50M to Trump in 2024.
  • John Catsimatidis / John & Margo Catsimatidis — Red Apple Group; Manhattan radio.
  • Thomas Peterffy — Interactive Brokers.
  • Andrew Beal — Beal Bank.
  • James A. Bowen / Walter W. Buckley Jr. — Investment management.

Sports / Entertainment Donors

  • Arte & Carole Moreno — LA Angels owner.
  • Roger Penske — Penske Corporation.
  • Robert “Hank” Seale — Bytemark; Texas tech.
  • Kit & Angela Goldsbury / Christopher “Kit” & Angela Goldsbury — Pace Foods heir.
  • John Ferolito / Jack & Meg Owoc — AriZona Beverages / Bang Energy.
  • Jude Reyes / J. Christopher Reyes — Reyes Holdings.

Defense / Military Industry Donors

  • Linden Blue — General Atomics.
  • Lynda & John Blanchard — Real estate.
  • Roger Norman — Tahoe Reno Industrial Center.

Other Notable Names from 2024 / Project 2025 Funder Network

  • Anthony & Lynda Lomangino — Cousins Maine Lobster financier.
  • Archie Aldis Emmerson — Sierra Pacific Industries (timber).
  • Benjamin Lewis / Bennie Kante — Florida real estate.
  • Brian & Gretchen Colleran — Senior care.
  • Charles & Helen Dolan / Charles Dolan — Dolan family.
  • Charles & Lisa Simonyi — Microsoft veteran.
  • Cynthia Cathy — Chick-fil-A.
  • Dan Snyder — Former Commanders owner.
  • Dan Wilks — Wilks Brothers.
  • Darwin Deason — ACS Inc.
  • David & Leila Centner — Centner Academy (FL).
  • David Duffield — Workday.
  • Debbi Bowles — Major Republican donor.
  • Dennis & Phyllis Washington — Washington Companies.
  • Don Ahern — Las Vegas.
  • Douglas & Patricia Leone — Sequoia Capital.
  • Duke & Hannah Flournoy Buchan — Texas philanthropy.
  • E. Joe Shoen — U-Haul / AMERCO.
  • Elizabeth Uihlein — Uline; $3M to Preserve America PAC (Oct 15, 2024); $5M to MAGA Inc.
  • Frank & Jill Fertitta / Lorenzo & Teresa Fertitta — Station Casinos.
  • H. Ross Perot, Jr. — Hillwood / Perot Companies.
  • Igor Olenicoff — Olen Properties.
  • Isaac & Laura Perlmutter — Marvel Entertainment veterans.
  • Jerry Moyes — Swift Transportation.
  • Jeff Yass — Susquehanna International Group / ByteDance stake; $32M+ to Club for Growth, CLF, Protect Freedom PAC in 2024.
  • Joe Liemandt — ESW Capital / Trilogy.
  • John & Margo Catsimatidis — Red Apple Group.
  • John McCall — McNair Group.
  • John O. & Jelena McGill — Major Republican donors.
  • John Paulson — Paulson & Co.; Trump inaugural committee.
  • Julie Jenkins Fancelli — Publix supermarkets heir; gave $300K to fund the January 6 rally.
  • Kelcy & Amy Warren — Energy Transfer Partners.
  • Ken & Sherrilyn Fisher — Fisher Investments.
  • Ken Griffin — Citadel; $5M GOP super PAC gift May 2026 after 2024 sit-out.
  • Kenny & Lisa Troutt — Excel Communications.
  • Leslie Liautaud — Jimmy John’s heir.
  • Linda McMahon — WWE / Education Secretary.
  • Linden Blue — General Atomics.
  • Lynda & John Blanchard — Real estate.
  • Marc Rowan — Apollo Global Management CEO; Senate Leadership Fund $1M+.
  • Marlyne Sexton — North Texas philanthropy.
  • Martin Selig — Seattle real estate.
  • Michael & Caryn Borland — Major Republican donors.
  • Nora Moroun — Trucking / Detroit International Bridge.
  • Palmer Luckey — Anduril.
  • Patricia Duggan — Bob Duggan-affiliated.
  • Phillip Ruffin — Treasure Island.
  • Richard LeFrak — LeFrak Organization.
  • Richard T. Burke — UnitedHealth co-founder.
  • Robert “Hank” & Lyssa Seale — Bytemark.
  • Roger Norman — Tahoe Reno.
  • Roger Penske — Penske Corp.
  • Ronald & Joyce Wanek — Ashley Furniture.
  • Ronald M. Cameron — Mountaire Farms; $2M to Preserve America PAC (Oct 10, 2024).
  • Rebekah Mercer — Renaissance Technologies fortune; historic Make America Number 1 funder; allied PACs.
  • Stephen & Melinda Winn — Winn Building Products.
  • Stephen Schwarzman — Blackstone.
  • Stewart Rahr — Pharma.
  • T. Denny Sanford — First Premier.
  • Thomas & Rhonda Peed — Sentry Mfg.
  • Thomas Peterffy — Interactive Brokers.
  • Tilman & Paige Fertitta — Landry’s / Rockets.
  • Trevor Milton — Nikola (pardoned).
  • Vernon Hill — Republic First Bancorp.
  • Walter W. Buckley Jr. & Marjorie B. Buckley — Investment management.
  • Warren Stephens — Stephens Inc.; U.S. Ambassador to the UK; $4M Trump inaugural (Dec 2024), $1M MAGA Inc. (Feb 2025).

Project 2025 / Heritage / Federalist Society Funder Network

The “infrastructure” donors who fund the think-tank apparatus that staffs Trump administrations.

  • Leonard Leo (network manager) — Federalist Society co-chair; Marble Freedom Trust ($1.6B Seid donation 2022); Concord Fund; 85 Fund; deep profile: Leonard Leo — Political Accountability Profile.
  • Barre Seid — Tripp Lite founder; donated $1.6B to Marble Freedom Trust (Leo-controlled) in 2022 — single largest political donation in US history.
  • Charles Koch — Koch Industries; though publicly distanced from Trump 2024, AFP infrastructure remained MAGA-aligned.
  • Richard Uihlein — Uline; Federalist Society / Restoration PAC.
  • Diane Hendricks — ABC Supply.

2025–2026 Signals and Dark-Money Channels

Post-2024 developments in the Trump mega-donor ecosystem, drawn from 2026 midterm-cycle FEC filings and reporting:

  • NOTUS (“A New Generation of MAGA Megadonors Is Emerging”): 96% of MAGA Inc.’s 2025 fundraising came from donations of $1M+, indicating extreme donor concentration heading into the midterms.
  • MAGA Inc. war chest: ~$397.7M total receipts and ~$400.6M ending cash on hand in the current 2026-cycle FEC summary, with only ~$1.7M in independent expenditures — an unusual hoarding pattern for a candidate-focused super PAC (Politico, July 2026).
  • Musk-linked 501(c)(4) received $75M anonymous donation (Sludge, Dec 2025) — a channel designed to move funds without FEC donor disclosure.
  • $26M from three previously unknown donors to a Trump-aligned dark-money group (Issue One, 2025).
  • May 2026 Campaign Legal Center FEC complaint alleging AI-subvendor / cross-transfer schemes among a network of pro-Trump super PACs; Fairshake PAC (crypto) alone transferred $51M to affiliated committees in the current cycle.
  • Reporting-window divergence caveat: OpenSecrets cycle-total aggregations and per-period FEC Form 3X snapshots frequently diverge; treat any single “total” as period-specific and cross-reference multiple filings.

Foreign-Linked / Foreign-Government-Adjacent Names of Note

  • Phillip Ruffin & Oleksandra Nikolyenko-Ruffin — Russia-born spouse.
  • Dan Snyder — Tax-domicile and beneficial-ownership disputes.
  • Stewart Rahr — High-volume Mar-a-Lago presence.

Cross-References

Was this article helpful?
0 out of 5 stars
5 Stars 0%
4 Stars 0%
3 Stars 0%
2 Stars 0%
1 Stars 0%
5
Please Share Your Feedback
How Can We Improve This Article?

Related Articles