The donors bankrolling the 2012 super PACs
Super PAC donors Sheldon Adelson, Peter Thiel, Foster Friess and Jeffrey Katzenberg
/ CBS/Getty Images(CBS News) With the latest numbers on political fundraising, super PACs, the independent groups which are able to raise and spend unlimited amounts of cash, once again played a major role. CBS News tabulated who the biggest donors are and to which groups they gave.
Top Dozen Super PAC Donors (2011-March 2012)
Adelson is CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Most of his family's donations, $21.5 million, have gone to the pro-Newt Gingrich Winning Our Future. Sheldon and his wife, Miriam, also gave $5 million in March 2012 to the Congressional Leadership Fund, which supports Republican candidates for the House of Representatives.
Tom Fox/Dallas Morning News
Simmons is CEO of Dallas-based holding company Contran Corp. and publicly traded Valhi.
Simmons and his wife and his company have given $12 million to the pro-Republican American Crossroads; $1.2 million to the pro-Rick Santorum Red White and Blue Fund; $1.1 million each the pro-Gingrich Winning Our Future and to Super PACs supporting Rick Perry; and $800,000 to the pro-Mitt Romney Restore Our Future.
Melissa Phillip, AP
Perry is a Houston-based homebuilder and president of Perry Homes.
Perry has given $4 million to the pro-Romney Restore Our Future, more than any other donor. Perry also gave $2.5 million to American Crossroads and $100,000 to the pro-Perry Make Us Great Again.
4 (tie). Jerry Perenchio. Total: $2.6 million
Perenchio, from Los Angeles, is the former chairman of Univision Spanish language television and chairs the investment firm Chartwell Partners.
Perenchio has given $2 million to American Crossroads and $500,000 to the pro-Romney Restore Our Future. He also gave $100,000 to the pro-Jon Huntsman Our Destiny.
Araya Diaz/Getty
Thiel is CEO of Clarium Capital Management, in Palo Alto, CA.
Thiel has given $2.6 million to the pro-Ron Paul Endorse Liberty.
Horatio Alger Society
Dore is President of Dore Energy Corporation, in Louisiana.
Dore has given $2.25 million to the pro-Rick Santorum Red White and Blue Fund.
Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty
7. Jon Huntsman, Sr. Total: $2.2 million
Huntsman is CEO of Huntsman Corporation in Utah.
Huntsman gave $2.2 million to Our Destiny, the Super PAC that supported his son's candidacy.
Andrew Goodman/Getty
Friess is a Wyoming-based founder of the investment firm Friess Associates.
Friess has given $2.1 million to the pro-Rick Santorum Red White and Blue Fund.
9. (tie) Robert Rowling. Total: $2 million
Rowling is president of the Texas investment firm, TRT Holdings, which owns Omni Hotels and Gold's Gyms. Rowling and his firm have given $2 million to American Crossroads.
Scott Olson/Getty
Katzenberg is CEO of Dreamworks Animation.
Katzenberg gave $2 million to the pro-Obama Priorities USA.
Nu Skin
Lund is Vice Chairman of the Board of cosmetics company Nu Skin, in Provo, Utah.
Lund is also the founder and registered agent of Eli Publishing; his son-in-law Jeremy Blickenstaff, is the registered agent of F8, which has the same address. Both Eli Publishing and F8 gave $1 million to the pro-Romney Restore Our Future.
Donors who have given more than $1M (2011-March 2012)
There are 30 donors who gave $1 million or more to super PACs this cycle. Here's how many million-dollar donors gave to each Super PAC:
Pro-Romney Restore Our Future: 15
Pro-Republican American Crossroads: 6
Pro-Obama Priorities USA Action: 4
Pro-Santorum Red White and Blue Fund: 3
Pro-Gingrich Winning Our Future: 2
Pro-Paul Endorse Liberty: 1
Pro-Perry Make Us Great Again: 1
Pro-Huntsman Our Destiny: 1
Pro-Democratic congressional groups: 1
Note: Harold Simmons gave $1 million to four super PACs, and Bob Perry gave $1 million to two super PACs.
$1 million donors for each super PAC:
PRO-ROMNEY RESTORE OUR FUTURE
- Bob Perry, home builder, from Texas -- $4 million
- William Koch/Oxbow Carbon/Huron Carbon, from Florida -- $2 million
- Steven Lund, NuSkin Vice Chairman, from Utah -- $2 million
- Julian Robertson, CEO, Tiger Management hedge fund, from New York -- $1.25 million
- Ken Griffin, CEO, Citadel hedge fund, from Illinois -- $1,050,000
- John Paulson, President, Paulson & Co. hedge fund, from New York -- $1 million
- Ed Conard, retired Bain Capital executive, from New York -- $1 million
- Paul Edgerly, Bain Capital executive, from Massachusetts -- $1 million
- Robert Mercer, co-CEO, Renaissance Technologies hedge fund -- $1 million
- Mike Fernandez/MBF Healthcare Partners, from Florida -- $1 million
- Melaleuca Companies, headed by Frank Vandersloot, from Idaho -- $1 million
- Paul Singer, founder & CEO, Elliot Management Corp. hedge fund, from New York -- $1 million
- Rooney Holdings, headed by Francis Rooney, from Oklahoma -- $1 million
- J.W. "Bill" Marriott, Chairman and CEO, Marriott hotels, from Maryland -- $1 million
- Richard Marriott, Chairman, Host hotels, from Maryland -- $1 million
PRO-REPUBLICAN AMERICAN CROSSROADS
- Harold Simmons/Contran -- $12 million
- Bob Perry -- $2.5 million
- Jerry Perenchio -- $2.5 million
- Robert Rowling -- $2 million
- Whiteco Industries, headed by Dean White, from Indiana -- $1 million
- Irving Moskowitz, Founder and Chairman, Moskowitz Foundation, from California -- $1 million
PRO-OBAMA PRIORITIES USA ACTION
- Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO, DreamWorks Animation, California -- $2 million
- Service Employees International Union (SEIU) -- $1 million
- Bill Maher, entertainer, from California -- $1 million
- Amy Goldman, real estate, from New York -- $1 million
PRO-SANTORUM RED WHITE AND BLUE FUND
- William Dore, President, Dore Energy Corporation, from Louisiana -- $2.25 million
- Foster Friess -- $2.1 million
- Harold/Annette Simmons -- $1.2 million
PRO-GINGRICH WINNING OUR FUTURE
- Sheldon Adelson & family -- $16.5 million
- Harold Simmons -- $1.1 million
PRO-PAUL ENDORSE LIBERTY
- Peter Thiel -- $2.6 million
PRO-RICK PERRY MAKE US GREAT AGAIN
- Harold Simmons/Contran -- $1 million
- Simmons also gave Americans for Rick Perry $100,000
PRO-JON HUNTSMAN OUR DESTINY
- Jon Huntsman Sr. -- $2.2 million
PRO-DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL GROUPS
- James Simmons, President of Euclidean Capital, New York - Gave $1 million the pro-Senate Democrats Majority PAC
Super PAC donors who are billionaires (2011-March 2012)
The following is a list of where 23 billionaire donors gave their money:
Pro-Republican American Crossroads: 4
Pro-Gingrich Winning Our Future: 2
Pro-Santorum Red White and Blue Fund: 1
Pro-Paul Endorse Liberty: 1
Pro-Perry Make Us Great Again: 1
Pro-Obama Priorities USA: 1
Pro-Democrat Congressional Super PACs: 2
Pro-Republican Congressional Super PACs: 1
Note: Harold Simmons gave to five super PACs; Sheldon Adelson, Jerry Perenchio, and Ken Griffin gave to two super PACs.
Billionaire donors for each super PAC:
PRO-ROMNEY BILLIONAIRES (net worth according to Forbes)
- William Koch, 71, energy, FL, worth $4 billion, gave $2 million
- Julian Robertson, 80, investments, NY, worth $2.5 billion, gave $1.25 million
- Ken Griffin, 43, investor, IL, worth $3 billion, gave 1.050 million
- J.W. "Bill" Marriott, 80, hotels, MD, worth $1.6 billion, gave $1 million
- Richard Marriott, 73, hotels, MD, worth $1.7 billion, gave $1 million
- John Paulson, 56, investor, NY, worth $12.5 billion, gave $1 million
- Charles Schwab, 74, discount brokerage, CA, worth $3.5 billion, gave $500,000
- Bruce Kovner, 67, investor, NY, worth $4.5 billion, gave $500,000
- Jerry Perenchio, 81, television, CA, worth $2.3 billion, gave $500,000
- Paul Tudor Jones, 57, investor, CT, worth $3.4 billion, gave $200,000
- Jim Walton, 63, Wal-Mart, AR, worth $23.7 billion, gave $100,000
- Alice Walton, 61, Wal-Mart, TX, worth $23.3 billion, gave $100,000
- Steve Ross, 71, real estate, NY, worth $3.1 billion, gave $100,000
- Steven Roth, 69 real estate, NY, worth $1.05 billion, gave $100,000
- Harold Simmons, 80, investments, TX, worth $9 billion, gave $100,000
- Sam Zell, 70, real estate, IL , worth $4.7 billion, gave $70,000
- Marc Rowan, 49, investor, NY, worth $1.45 billion, gave $55,000
PRO-AMERICAN CROSSROADS BILLIONAIRES
- Harold Simmons, 80, investor, TX, worth $9 billion, gave $12 million
- Jerry Perenchio, 81, television, CA, worth $2.3 billion, gave $2 million
- Robert Rowling, 58, investments, TX, worth $4.8 billion, gave $1 million
- Ken Griffin, 43, investor, IL, worth $3 billion, gave $700,000
PRO-GINGRICH BILLIONAIRES
- Sheldon Adelson, 78, casinos, NV, worth $24.9 billion, gave $16.5 million
- Harold Simmons, 80, investor, TX, worth $9 billion, gave $1 million
PRO-SANTORUM BILLIONAIRES
- Harold Simmons, 80, investor, TX, worth $9 billion, gave $1.2 million
PRO-RON PAUL BILLIONAIRES
- Peter Thiel, 44, Paypal/Facebook, CA, worth $1.5 billion, gave $2.6 million
PRO-PERRY BILLIONAIRES
- Harold Simmons, 80, investor, TX, worth $9 billion, gave $1.1 million
PRO-OBAMA BILLIONAIRES
- Steven Spielberg, 64, movies, CA, worth $3 billion, gave $100,000
PRO-CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRAT BILLIONAIRES
- George Soros, 81, investor, NY, worth $20 billion, gave $175,000 to House Majority PAC and $100,000 to Majority PAC
- Anne Cox Chambers, 92, publisher, GA, worth $12 billion, gave $100,000 to House Majority PAC
PRO-CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICAN BILLIONAIRES
- Sheldon Adelson, 78, casinos, NV, worth $24.9 billion, gave $5 million to Congressional Leadership PAC
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A Vote for Obama is a vote for SOROS
A Vote for Romney is a vote for SOROS
Soros has RIGGING the ELECTION. He CAN NOT LOSE and he will CONTROL the President no matter WHO wins.
If America and OTHER Donors can't SEE what is happening here your BLIND. We will go thru the EXACT SAME CRAP we did for the last 4 years with this EVIL WRETCH contributing 20 MILLION (so far) are you KIDDING ME.... Put the ****** DEMON IN JAIL will ya !!!
If we run ANYONE with a Tie to SOROS Americans MUST BE INSANE...I am PRAYING that NEWT GINGRICH HANGS ON SOMEHOW...HES THE ONLY MAN THAT CAN TAKE OBAMA HEAD ON AND WIN...AND...SAVE OUR COUNTRY..The ONLY ONE. GO NEWT !!
DISGUSTING.!!!!!
Is a family of 4 making $115,000 a year not common folk?
I mean because that is what my family and I are. I see nothing in the democrat party or Obama platform that works for me. What one of Obama's policies would benefit me?
After all we only paid 9% tax on our %115,000 income and I have several coworkers who are single and live at home with their parents who made about half of what we did yet paid twice as much as a percentage of their income in taxes.
If Obama gets his tax on the 1% who he says aren't paying their fair share how long will it be before families like mine are targeted for not paying our fair share?