Who are Donald Trump’s biggest Donors?
Who are Donald’s Trump top 2024 election cycle donors and what brands are they connected to?
With Election Day less than a week away and the presidential race on a knife’s edge, Donald Trump and his allies are pouring money and resources into the race in hopes of regaining the White House.
Below is a deep dive on Donald Trump’s top donors according to Open Secrets and what companies/brands they are connected to. As of 10/30 Trump’s campaign had internally raised $381.5M and outside groups that support him have raised $694.2M for a total of just over $1B. For comparison Kamala Harris, who’s fundraising efforts we’ve written about previously, had internally raised $1B and externally raised $585.7M for a total of $1.59B.
Big takeaway: Given the size of the donations from his top donors below, Trump’s donations are even more concentrated amongst wealthy donors than Harris.
Note: Elon Musk was not listed by Open Secrets, but we’ve included him in our list due to the extensive reporting on his contributions to Pro-Trump groups.
Brands in BOLD below can be shopped in our Shoppyist cashback shopping app:
Tech Brands: Microsoft, Google, Zoom, Dell, Amazon, PayPal, Tesla, SpaceX, X (Twitter), Neuralink
Gas/Oil Brands: Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66, Sunoco, Hess
Airline Brands: Southwest Airlines, American Airlines (via Expedia is in the app)
Clothing Brands: Nike, Macy’s
Health Brands: Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, NorthStar Medical Technologies
Other Brands: Tesla, Pinterest, Etsy, Disney
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The numbers from the top 10 Trump donors ($277M, or 27.7% of all his donations):
10. Elliott Management (Paul Singer) — $5,009,943
Headquartered in Florida, Elliot Management has almost $70 billion under management. Founder and CEO, Paul Singer, is a long time Republican Donor who has been a key player in Several Republican entities. Singer was one of the top contributors to the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) in 2022 — the Mitch McConnell aligned Republican Super PAC.
Despite his prolific donations in the 2022 cycle, Signer had been skeptical about supporting Trump throughout most of 2024, with Bloomberg reporting in July that he was still uncertain about supporting Trump’s candidacy despite meeting with him personally. However, it appears Elliot has warmed to Trump as Election Day nears by cutting a $5 million check to Make America Great Again Inc. — the Trump campaign’s main super PAC. With his successful background in finance and major financial support of Trump, don’t be surprised to see Singer’s name mentioned among potential cabinet members should Trump reclaim the White House.
Brands Elliot Management is Connected to: Elliot Management’s investment portfolio includes companies like Pinterest, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Marathon Petroleum, Etsy, Phillips 66.
9. Energy Transfer LP (Kelcy Warren) — $5,032,857
With offices in 44 states, Energy Transfer LP is one of the nation’s leading companies focused on transportation, storage, and terminaling for natural gas, crude oil, and other refined products. The company is perhaps best known for its role in building the Dakota Access oil pipeline, despite bitter protests from local tribes.
Chairman Kelcy Warren appears to have his eyes set on capitalizing on Trump’s track record and future promises of pro-natural gas and energy policy — specifically eliminating any threats to the Dakota Access Pipeline. Additionally, Warren was one of the earliest Trump mega donors of the campaign, with a $5 million check cut to Make America Great Again PAC, back in May. If Trump prevails on Election Day, Warren’s name will almost certainly be mentioned for Secretary of Energy.
Brands Energy LP is Connected to: Energy Transfer LP’s investment portfolio appears to show holdings in Sunoco.
8. Cantor Fitzgerald (Howard Lutnick) — $6,023,334
Cantor Fitzgerald, one of the world’s largest financial service companies comes in at 8th on our list. Unlike some of the other donors on the list, Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick has emerged as one of Donald Trump’s most vocal supporters, and has worked tirelessly to rally Wall Street to the former president’s cause.
As a result, Lutnick has been named Co-Chair of a potential Trump transition team — a role in which he has stirred up controversy by alluding to ‘loyalty’ as a requirement for potential cabinet members. Lutnick’s support has not been limited to Trump in 2024. The Wall Street tycoon has contributed $1 million to Keystone Renewal PAC, a group supporting Army veteran and Senate candidate Dave McCormick in the critical battleground state of Pennsylvania.
Lutnick’s prolific spending, coupled with his outspoken support of Donald Trump will certainly make him a major player in a second Trump administration.
Brands that Cantor Fitzgerald is connected to: Cantor Fitzgerald’s investment portfolio includes companies like: Hess, Microsoft, Google, Nike, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Amazon, Disney, Apple, Macy’s, Zoom, and Dell.
7. British American Tobacco — $8,501,048
As its name would indicate, British American Tobacco is a multinational tobacco company, known mostly for its cigarettes. Headquartered in London, the company didn’t seem to have much care of American politics until 2023 — When the DOJ obtained a $629 million settlement for trying to circumvent American restrictions on sales with North Korea.
Since that settlement, the company has donated over $13 million, all on behalf of Republican candidates. The main recipients of British American Tobacco political contributions are Make America Great Again Inc. ($8.5 million), the Senate Leadership Fund ($2 million), and the Congressional leadership Fund ($1.6)
Although we can’t say for certain, it appears safe to assume British American Tobacco is hoping a Trump administration and Republican controlled congress may intervene on its behalf with the DOJ.
6. Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Foundation — $10,000,000
The Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Foundation is a nonprofit organization “dedicated to improving the lives of others — with a specific focus on health care, social justice, the arts and community initiatives.” according to its website. Founded by its namesakes, husband and wife Isaac “Ike” and Laura Perlmutter, the Foundation has been a presence in the New York City charitable scene for four decades.
Ike Perlmutter, the former head of Marvel Studios, has been a key Trump ally in the past. According to CNBC, he advised Trump on issues relating to Veterans Affairs during his first term, and both Perlmutter’s donated $10.5 million to Trump-aligned Super PACs in 2020. This time around the Permutters have been relatively more reserved in their contributions, with $10 million total given to Right for America PAC.
Brands that the Perlumtters are connected to: Disney
5. Uline Inc (Elizabeth & Richard Uihlein) — $10,022,519
Uline Inc is an American shipping and bulk industrial goods company. Headquartered in the critical swing state of Wisconsin, the company was founded by Liz and Richard “Dick” Uihlein in 1980. The Uihleins have long been some of the biggest donors to conservative candidates and organizations. In 2024 alone, the Uihline’s have contributed more than $76 million to conservative causes, and while the $10 million they’ve contributed to Make America Great Again Inc. puts them among the top five Trump Donors, it’s only half of the $20 million they’ve donated to Club for Growth Action, and Restoration PAC, two organizations dedicated to electing conservatives.
The Uihlines have been linked to Trump since 2016, and although they contributed $2 million to a Super PAC supporting Ron DeSantis during the Republican primary, they appear to be all in on Donald Trump.
4. Hendricks Holdings Co. (Diane Hendricks) — $15,007,093
According to its website Hendricks Holding Company, Inc. (HHC) is a private investment firm that invests in and supports a diverse portfolio of financially strong and sustainable companies. We provide our companies with the resources and support they need to reach their business goals and deliver best-in-class services to their respective industries.
The Company was founded in the 1970’s by the late Ken Hendricks and his wife Diane (who spoke at this year’s Republican National Convention.) Hendricks’ $15 million check cut to Make America Great Again Inc. likely played a role in her prime time speaking slot at the convention. She’s also no stranger to major political donations, having given around $19 million to Wisconsin Truth PAC, an organization supporting the successful reelection bid of Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) in 2022.
Brands that Hendricks Holdings Co. is connected to: Hendricks Holdings Co. investment portfolio includes companies like: American Industrial Steel & Supply, LLC,
Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC, NorthStar Medical Technologies LLC.
3. America First PAC — $16,256,267
A Super PAC set up by members of Trump’s inner orbit, America First PAC comes in at third on our list. The PAC made headlines in August, after it announced it was seeking to raise $100 million for “cutting-edge AI models designed to mobilize voters and dominate the electoral battleground in key swing states.” One of the PAC’s main backers, Jeff Allen Yarcherver founded Jet Apparel Group, one of the largest off brand clothing distributors in the U.S.
2. Elon Musk — $75,000,000
Easily the most well known and outspoken of the Trump campaign’s big donors, Musk has put his money where his mouth is this election cycle, to the sum of $75 million in support of the former President. Musk endorsed Trump following the first assassination attempt against him, in Butler Pennsylvania, on July 13th. Since then, Musk has poured millions into his own Super PAC, America PAC, with the goal of aggressively mobilizing voters in swing states.
Musk’s support for Trump is the culmination of a several years long shift toward Republican candidates — particularly since he acquired ownership of Twitter (later renamed X). Among many reasons for his support of the Trump-Vance Ticket, Musk has emphasized his view that Trump will defend free speech, the Right Bear Arms, and promote crypto currency, calling this election a “must-win” for Trump and Republicans.
Being the enigmatic figure that he is, Musk’s motivations remain somewhat of a mystery. It’s likely that he favors Trump’s proposed tax cut policies, and Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance’s warm relations with Silicon Valley probably play a role as well. At the end of the day, Musk may simply believe that Donald Trump is the best choice for President.
Brands that Elon Musk is connected to: Elon Musk either owns or is connected to companies like SpaceX, X (Twitter), Tesla, Neuralink, PayPal, and SolarCity.
1. Timothy Mellon — $125,000,000
In an election that seemingly has a new surprise around every corner, it is fitting that perhaps the most elusive donor on our list also tops it. Despite the massive amount of money he’s contributed, Timothy Mellon, scion of the famed family banking dynasty, Grandson of a Former U.S. The Treasury Secretary is almost off the map. Do a Google image search for him and you won’t find many recent pictures of the 82 year old. Outside of publishing a 2016 memoir, he’s scarcely made any public comments.
Despite his low profile, Mellon has become one of the most Prolific donors to conservative candidates and causes over the last decade. According to Open Secrets, Mellon has made more than $275 million in political contributions since 2018, including $165 million in 2024 alone. Mellon’s donations in the Presidential race are not limited to Donald Trump either, having sent more than $25 million to American Values 2024 PAC, a group backing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s now suspended campaign.
Although his motivations remain largely a mystery, there can be little doubt that Timothy Mellon will play a major role in determining the outcome of this election, especially if Donald Trump returns to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Remember, big donors get their political power from the access & influence that their big donations buy. But that “big money” is really just a collection of money made on regular people’s “small” transactions. Whether you know it or like it, where you shop and what you buy is the real source of your political power. That’s why VotingSmarter & Shoppyist have partnered to give you more impact, and a little cashback!
Through the efforts of both teams at VotingSmarter & Shoppyist, we continue to evoke difficult discussions to improve the quality of our “omni-political” content. For this reason, we are constantly looking for alternative ideas and sources to combat our inherent biases and to do our best to look at the world through multiple lenses. Please send sources, articles, and ideas our way in the comments, and follow the socials for @VotingSmarter & @Shoppyist. This piece was authored by Benjamin Coburn, the editor of this blog.
