Politics
Tech Billionaires’ Contributions to Trump’s 2026 Midterm Campaigns Revealed
In the November 3 midterm elections, Democrats made gains, but Republican fundraising remained a key story. Four tech billionaires—Elon Musk, Larry Ellison, Marc Benioff, and Michael Dell—made significant contributions to Donald Trump’s campaign and Republican causes.
Elon Musk was the largest donor in the 2026 midterms. A New York Times analysis found he gave $474 million to Republican candidates, including more than $220 million in Texas. His own super PAC, America PAC, received $216 million and has supported over 40 House and Senate races. Musk also contributed $77 million in the first half of October, according to Newsweek. The Senate Leadership Fund, a main super PAC for Senate Republicans, received $168 million, of which $158 million went to the Texas PAC backing Ken Paxton. The Congressional Leadership Fund received $30 million to help protect the Republican House majority, and Musk’s trust gave $10 million to the Lone Star Liberty PAC.
Larry Ellison donated about $45 million to a nonprofit that backed Trump’s 2024 campaign. The gift was not disclosed until June 2026 and was not subject to disclosure rules. Federal filings show Trump’s brokerage accounts bought and sold Oracle stock this year, each transaction exceeding $1 million. Ellison told Trump at a White House event that “We certainly couldn’t do this without you,” and Trump called him the “CEO of everything.”
Michael Dell and his wife Susan donated $6.25 billion to fund “Trump Accounts.” The money was deposited in the Treasury and split into $250 accounts for 25 million children aged 10 or younger in zip codes with median incomes of $150 000 or less, under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Dells had previously given $2.9 billion in total. Dell praised Trump’s “visionary leadership” at a White House roundtable in June 2025 and thanked him at the December event. Trump responded with praise, writing, “TWO GREAT PEOPLE. I LOVE DELL!!!”
Marc Benioff shifted from a liberal donor to a Trump supporter. A Washington Post list shows Benioff committed $1 million to Trump’s White House ballroom the day after Trump thanked him for a Time cover. Salesforce made two separate $1 million commitments. Benioff faced backlash after supporting the deployment of National Guard troops to San Francisco, a proposal opposed by local leaders. He later apologized for his remarks. Salesforce also pitched its AI tools to ICE to aid recruitment and staffing amid expanding immigration enforcement.
These contributions illustrate the varied ways the tech billionaires have supported Trump and Republican candidates during the 2026 midterm cycle.
Frequently asked questions
How much did Elon Musk donate to the 2026 midterm elections?
Elon Musk donated $474 million to Republican candidates, including more than $220 million in Texas.
What was the amount donated by Michael Dell and his wife?
Michael Dell and his wife Susan donated $6.25 billion to fund "Trump Accounts."
What contribution did Larry Ellison make?
Larry Ellison donated about $45 million to a nonprofit that backed Trump’s 2024 campaign.