Here Are The Billionaires Backing Joe Biden’s Presidential Campaign
The list includes famous names like former Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman, ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt and arts patron Eli Broad. There are also lesser-known tycoons like casino and real estate scion Neil Bluhm and Marcus & Millichap founder George Marcus, who have hosted $1,000-a-head fundraisers for the former vice president, according to pool reports. Marcus described Biden as “probably the most sterling individual that we could imagine would occupy the office of the White House.” Altogether, Forbes found 26 billionaires and 18 billionaire spouses who have contributed to the campaign.
The Patriot versus the President
NEW YORK – It was an extraordinary spectacle: Lieutenant Colonel Alexander ... →
Eighteen got rich in finance and investments—six in hedge funds, five in private equity. Seven owe their fortunes to real estate and five to the tech sector. Nearly all the billionaires are self-made businesspeople rather than lucky heirs.
Biden got off to a late start fundraising after waiting until April to launch his campaign. He made up ground quickly, receiving contributions from 25 billionaires and their spouses by June, then another 19 by the end of September. The former vice president got more billionaire support than any other candidate in the third quarter of 2019.
Most of his billionaire donors contributed $2,800, the most any individual can give directly to a candidate’s campaign, per election. Only five of the 44 supporters gave exclusively to Biden. The former vice president’s total fundraising haul of $38 million still trails rivals like Bernie Sanders ($75 million) and Elizabeth Warren ($60 million).
Biden’s billionaire backers may come in handy down the line. In October, a pro-Biden super PAC called Unite The Country sprang to life. Super PACs, which can end up buying ads to support or oppose particular candidates, are not controlled directly by campaigns. Unite The Country has yet to disclose how much money it has raised or who is supplying its funds.
How Joe Biden’s Donors Got Rich
Forbes found that 44 billionaires and their spouses have donated to Biden’s presidential campaign committee. Their fortunes stem from eight industries.
Biden’s billionaire backers, ordered by net worth:
Net worth: $21.6 billion*
Source of wealth: Hedge funds
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Michael Bennet, Jay Inslee (dropout)
Other notable contributions: DNC Services Corp./Democratic National Committee ($355,000); Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ($246,000); Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ($246,500)**
Net worth: $19.5 billion
Source of wealth: Diversified
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: Pete Buttigieg
Other notable contributions: DCCC ($248,500); McCarthy Victory Fund, to support California Republican congressman Kevin McCarthy ($200,000)
Net worth: $15.3 billion
Source of wealth: Google
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Cory Booker
Other notable contributions: Nancy Pelosi Victory Fund ($35,500)
Net worth: $9 billion
Source of wealth: Agriculture, water
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris (dropout), John Hickenlooper (dropout), Amy Klobuchar
Other notable contributions: Nancy Pelosi Victory Fund ($518,200)
Net worth: $7.6 billion
Source of wealth: Venture capital
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: Cory Booker, Kamala Harris (dropout)
Other notable contributions: Nancy Pelosi Victory Fund ($92,200)
Net worth: $6.8 billion
Source of wealth: Home building, financial services
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris (dropout)
Other notable contributions: PAC For A Change, political action committee that opposes Republican candidates ($25,000)
MELLODY HOBSON, WIFE OF GEORGE LUCAS
Spouse’s net worth: $6.4 billion
Source of wealth: Star Wars
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Cory Booker, Kamala Harris (dropout), John Hickenlooper (dropout)
Other notable contributions: DSCC ($35,500); DCCC ($35,500)
Net worth: $6.4 billion
Source of wealth: Media, automotive
Size of donation: $2,000
Also supported: Pete Buttigieg
Other notable contributions: DCCC ($35,500)
KATHERINE FARLEY, WIFE OF JERRY SPEYER
Spouse’s net worth: $4 billion
Source of wealth: Real estate
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Amy Klobuchar
Net worth: $3.9 billion
Source of wealth: Real estate
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand (dropout), John Hickenlooper (dropout)
Other notable contributions: Delgado for Congress, to support New York Democratic congressman Antonio Delgado ($2,800)
Net worth: $3.8 billion
Source of wealth: Blackstone
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Kirsten Gillibrand (dropout), Amy Klobuchar, Kamala Harris (dropout), John Hickenlooper (dropout), Seth Moulton (dropout), Beto O’Rourke (dropout)
Other notable contributions: DSCC ($71,000); DCCC ($71,000)
Net worth: $3.7 billion
Source of wealth: Private equity
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris (dropout)
Other notable contributions: DSCC ($35,500)
Net worth: $3.6 billion
Source of wealth: eBay
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: John Hickenlooper (dropout)
Other notable contributions: The Procter & Gamble Company Good Government Fund ($5,000)
Net worth: $3.5 billion
Source of wealth: Video games
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: N/A
Net worth: $3.3 billion
Source of wealth: Real estate
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: Michael Bennet, Steve Bullock (dropout), John Delaney, Kamala Harris (dropout), Amy Klobuchar, Andrew Yang
Other notable contributions: Team Holcomb, to support Republican Indiana governor Eric Holcomb ($50,000)
Net worth: $3.2 billion
Source of wealth: Hedge funds
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: Tom Steyer
Other notable contributions: Ted Deutch for Congress Committee, to support the Florida Democratic congressman ($1,500)
LIZ LEFKOFSKY, WIFE OF ERIC LEFKOFSKY
Spouse’s net worth: $2.8 billion
Source of wealth: Groupon
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Beto O’Rourke (dropout)
Other notable contributions: Marie Newman for Congress, to support the Illinois Democratic candidate for Congress ($2,800)
Net worth: $2.8 billion
Source of wealth: Hedge funds
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: John Delaney, Steve Bullock (dropout)
Other notable contributions: Planned Parenthood Votes ($1.3 million)
Net worth: $2.2 billion
Source of wealth: Private equity
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: Michael Bennet, Kamala Harris (dropout)
Other notable contributions: DNC Services Corp. / Democratic National Committee ($135,500)
Net worth: $2.2 billion
Source of wealth: Private equity
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: Michael Bennet
Other notable contributions: Josh Gottheimer for Congress ($8,400), to support the New Jersey Democratic congressman; Mark Kelly for Senate, to support the Arizona Democratic candidate ($11,200)
KATHY YARBROUGH, WIFE OF JON YARBROUGH
Spouse’s net worth: $2.2 billion
Source of wealth: Video games
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Pete Buttigieg
Net worth: $2 billion
Source of wealth: Slim-Fast
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Amy Klobuchar
Other notable contributions: AB PAC, super PAC that opposed Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore in 2018 ($250,000); DNC Services Corp./Democratic National Committee ($150,000)
AILEEN ROBERTS, WIFE OF BRIAN ROBERTS
Spouse’s net worth: $2 billion
Source of wealth: Comcast
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: N/A
Other notable contributions: McCarthy Victory Fund ($35,000); National Republican Senatorial Committee ($5,000)
Net worth: $1.8 billion
Source of wealth: Hedge funds
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Kirsten Gillibrand (dropout), Kamala Harris (dropout), Joe Sestak (dropout)
Other notable contributions: Mark Kelly for Senate ($2,800)
JUDY DIMON, WIFE OF JAMIE DIMON
Spouse’s net worth: $1.7 billion
Source of wealth: JPMorgan Chase
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Cory Booker, John Delaney
Net worth: $1.6 billion
Source of wealth: Insurance, NFL team
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar
Other notable contributions: Priorities USA Action, political action committee that opposes Republicans and support Democratic candidates ($100,000)
Net worth: $1.5 billion
Source of wealth: Real estate
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: N/A
Other notable contributions: SMP, super PAC that supports Democratic candidates ($1 million); House Majority PAC, super PAC that opposes Republican candidates ($1 million)
SUSAN SAROFIM, WIFE OF FAYEZ SAROFIM
Spouse’s net worth: $1.5 billion
Source of wealth: Money management
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Julian Castro, Beto O’Rourke (dropout)
Other notable contributions: DSCC ($35,500)
Net worth: $1.1 billion
Source of wealth: KIND Healthy Snacks
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Pete Buttigieg, Beto O’Rourke (dropout)
Other notable contributions: Kentucky State Democratic Central Executive Committee ($10,000)
Net worth: $1.1 billion
Source of wealth: Venture capital
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris (dropout), Jay Inslee (dropout), Beto O’Rourke (dropout), Elizabeth Warren
Other notable contributions: Kathleen Williams for Montana, to support the Democratic candidate’s congressional campaign ($5,600); Amy McGrath for Senate, to support the Kentucky Democratic candidate ($4,200)
Net worth: $1.1 billion
Source of wealth: Insurance, NFL team
Size of donation: $1,000
Also supported: Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg
Other notable contributions: Planned Parenthood Votes ($10,000); Iowa Democratic Party ($10,000)
Net worth: $1 billion
Source of wealth: Home building
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: N/A
Other notable contributions: Maine Democratic Party ($10,000)