Billionaire Timothy Mellon Invests $165 Million to Shape the 2024 Elections

Timothy Mellon, an influential figure in political financing, has notably increased his financial backing of various candidates and groups associated with conservative ideologies ahead of the 2024 elections. As the heir to the fortune built by Gilded Age industrialist Andrew Mellon, Timothy has become the top outside donor for the upcoming election cycle, channeling over $165 million into support for former President Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and various Republican congressional candidates.

Recent Federal Election Commission filings reveal Mellon’s significant contributions, including a $50 million donation to pro-Trump super PAC Make America Great Again, Inc. in July. This particular contribution has brought his total donations to the group to an astonishing $125 million this election cycle, demonstrating his role as a “guardian angel donor,” a title designated to those who contribute over 40% of a political group’s funding.

Mellon’s financial influence is starkly visible, with the July contribution constituting over 90% of MAGA Inc.’s total monthly fundraising, leaving the PAC with about $124.5 million on hand at month’s end. In contrast, during the 2020 election cycle, Mellon started making his mark by donating $60.1 million to federal political committees, including $20 million to America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC. With two months left before the November election, his generosity in 2024 has already more than doubled compared to previous cycles.

This shift in Mellon’s political contributions aligns with a broader trend away from his earlier support for causes like environmental issues and Native American rights. His family is recognized as one of America’s wealthiest, ranking 34th as of February 2024, due largely to Andrew Mellon’s extensive industrial empire, which included major stakes in banking, coal, and aluminum.

Despite his financial clout, Timothy Mellon maintains a low public profile. Few images of him exist online, and he rarely engages with media outlets. His contributions have not come without controversy; critics have highlighted his autobiography, in which he described certain U.S. social programs as a “slavery redux,” sparking backlash.

One of the beneficiaries of his support this election cycle is independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who received $25 million from Mellon earlier this year. Kennedy has praised Mellon’s entrepreneurial spirit but faced scrutiny regarding his potential impact on the electoral landscape before ultimately suspending his campaign and endorsing Trump.

Mellon’s political donations have predominantly focused on federal races. His top recipients include MAGA Inc., the Congressional Leadership Fund, and the American Values 2024 PAC. The Congressional Leadership Fund has dedicated significant resources to support Republican candidates, spending over $227 million in the 2022 midterms alone.

In addition to federal endeavors, Mellon made a noteworthy state-level contribution of $1 million to Fair Courts America in Wisconsin. This organization opposes what they perceive as judicial activism and claims to defend the integrity of the court system. Despite his expanding role in political financing in recent years, Mellon’s activities prior to 2018 were largely under the radar, often routed through dark money channels that obscure donor identities.