Timothy Mellon, a reclusive heir to a Gilded Age fortune, made headlines by donating $50 million to a super PAC supporting Donald J. Trump the day after the former president was convicted of 34 felonies. This massive donation is one of the largest single disclosed contributions ever made in American political history. The donation is expected to have a significant impact on the 2024 presidential race, with the pro-Trump super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc., planning to reserve $100 million in advertising through Labor Day following the contribution. Mr. Mellon’s donation accounted for much of the nearly $70 million raised by the super PAC in May.
Mr. Mellon is the first donor to give $100 million in disclosed federal contributions in the 2024 election. He has previously given significant amounts to super PACs supporting both Mr. Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running as an independent candidate. Democrats have raised concerns about Mr. Mellon’s dual contributions, suggesting that his support of Mr. Kennedy could be seen as divisive. It remains unclear how Mr. Mellon’s mega-donation to the pro-Trump super PAC will impact his support for Mr. Kennedy going forward, given his history of toggling between both candidates.
The $50 million donation by Mr. Mellon is expected to help pro-Trump forces narrow the financial advantage President Biden and his allies have enjoyed so far. Other notable donors such as Miriam Adelson, the widow of Sheldon G. Adelson, and Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein have also made significant contributions to pro-Trump causes. However, Mr. Biden’s supporters already have more than $1 billion in planned spending, with leading pro-Biden super PAC Future Forward having reserved $250 million in advertising.
Individual donations as large as $50 million are rare in American political campaigns, with such gifts usually coming from self-funded candidates, couples who split their contributions, or donors who pay in installments. Make America Great Again Inc. has previously faced fundraising challenges despite its ties to Mr. Trump, relying on donations from Republican donors connected to the former president. Mr. Mellon’s $25 million contribution to the group over the past year has made him a major contributor.
Timothy Mellon, who prefers to stay out of the limelight, made a name for himself in Republican fundraising circles with his generous donations. Despite his wealthy background as a member of the Mellon family, he was relatively unknown before his $10 million donation to a G.O.P. super PAC in 2018. A highly unusual figure in political circles, Mr. Mellon has taken steps to guide his influence in Washington while residing primarily in Wyoming. He also made a significant donation to fund a private border wall project in Texas.
Mr. Mellon’s upcoming book, “panam.captain,” is set to be released next month and delves into his experiences turning around Pan Am Systems. His previous autobiography was removed from publication in 2016 due to controversial passages about social programs and welfare. Despite his reclusive nature, Mr. Mellon appears to be embracing the attention surrounding his influence, especially with his significant donations to political causes. In his rare interviews, he has praised President Trump for keeping his promises, signaling his support for the former president’s policies and initiatives.
