Billionaire conservative donor Dick Uihlein has poured nearly $49 million into the Restoration PAC last quarter, making him one of the biggest backers of former President Donald Trump’s campaign. This contribution adds to the nearly $59 million Uihlein has donated to the PAC this year. The Restoration PAC, in turn, made contributions of nearly $20 million to various conservative and pro-Trump groups in the third quarter, including Moms for Liberty Action and Women Speak Out PAC. Uihlein and his wife Liz had previously promised to back Trump’s campaign after initially supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ bid for the presidency.
According to Forbes’ estimates, Dick and Liz Uihlein each have fortunes worth $6 billion, ranking them at number 547 on the world’s richest people list. In addition to Uihlein’s contributions, billionaire donors Miriam Adelson and Elon Musk also made substantial donations in the last quarter, totaling $218.7 million. Adelson donated $95 million to the pro-Trump Preserve America PAC, while Musk contributed around $75 million to his America PAC. These donations highlight the significant financial support Trump is receiving from wealthy backers as he prepares for a potential 2023 presidential campaign.
The Uihleins were initially supporters of DeSantis’ presidential bid before he dropped out of the Republican primary and endorsed Trump. In a March interview with the Financial Times, Liz Uihlein stated that she and her husband would be backing Trump’s campaign, despite their previous support for DeSantis. The Uihleins founded their shipping supplies company Uline in 1980, which now generates over $6 billion in annual sales. They have been long-time donors to Republican candidates and have expressed support for Trump’s “America First” trade policies in their company’s annual catalog.
The donations from Uihlein, Adelson, and Musk underscore the significant financial backing that Trump is receiving as he prepares for a potential presidential campaign in 2023. These contributions are being funneled through various super PACs and conservative groups that support Trump’s agenda and policies. The Uihleins’ support for Trump marks a shift from their initial backing of DeSantis, demonstrating their commitment to the former president’s political aspirations. With the financial support from these wealthy donors, Trump is positioned to have a strong fundraising base as he considers a return to the political arena.
