The 20 Most Influential Billionaires Behind The Scenes Of US Politics
20. Alice Walton
19. Donald Trump
Mutli-media master Donald Trump routinely comments on numerous political issues, and has succeeded in amassing a large following of conservatives.
Source: Brookings Institute
18. Marc Andreessen
Marc Andreessen backed GOP presidential candidate Romney in 2012. He's interested in the future of journalism — and in particular, the swift transition from traditional media to digital.
Source: Brookings Institute
17. Peter G. Peterson
Peterson argues for the reduction of government debt, and with his foundation has funded organizations such as Fix the Debt and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
Source: Brookings Institute
16. Paul Singer
Paul Singer — a conservative Republic — has been a support of same-sex marriage and has a political action committee American Unity that contributed $2 million in support to GOP legislators who also are in support of same-sex marriage.
Source: Brookings Institute
15. Art Pope
Until recently, Art Pope was North Carolina's state budget director, and has been influential in the resurgence of the GOP in the state.
Source: Brookings Institute
14. Pierre and Pamela Omidyar
14. The Omidyars criticized U.S. surveillance, and their foundation works on government transparency, property rights, and economic development.
Source: Brookings Institute
13. Jeff and Mackenzie Bezos
Jeff Bezos recently purchases the Washington Post, and have supported $2.5 million to the Washington state referendum in support of same-sex marriage.
Source: Brookings Institute
12. Mark Zuckerberg
Zuckerberg works on immigration reform with the FWD.us organization, and has pushed for school reform in Newark, New Jersey.
Source: Brookings Institute
11. Peter Thiel
Peter Thiel contributed $2.6 million to the super-PAC for Ron Paul in 2012, and he recently expressed support for increased minimum wage.
Source: Brookings Institute
10. Warren Buffett
Buffett has been a strong Obama supporter, and advocates higher taxes on wealthy individuals.
Source: Brookings Institute
9. Penny Pritzker
Pritzker is an Obama supporter and served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce in his administration.
Source: Brookings Institute
8. John and Laura Arnold
The Arnolds have contributed millions to state law makers in order to shift costs to employees and reduce pension benefits.
Source: Brookings Institute
7. Bill and Melinda Gates
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been extremely influential in education reform, and contributed $100,000 to support same-sex marriage in a Washington state referendum.
Source: Brookings Institute
6. Rupert Murdoch
Murdoch owns both the Wall Street Journal and Fox News — two major news organizations. Plus, he works with Bloomberg on immigration reform.
Source: Brookings Institute
5. George Soros
Soros gave $1 million to Obama in 2012, and signed up as the co-finance chair of the "Ready for Hillary" super PAC.
Source: Brookings Institute
4. Sheldon Adelson
Adelson spent a whopping $93 million "seeking to defeat President Barack Obama in 2012", and promised to spend two times that much next election.
Source: Brookings Institute
3. Tom Steyer
Steyer is interested in climate change and works extensively to raise public awareness.
Source: Brookings Institute
2. Michael Bloomberg
Bloomberg is donating $50 million against the NRA with his super-PAC Independence USA. He also has the nonprofit organizations Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Partnership for a New American Economy.
Source: Brookings Institute
1. Charles and David Koch
The Koch brothers have contributed $30 million in "campaign ads targeting vulnerable Senate Democrats in a number of states" and that number "is expected to rise to $290 million by Election Day." Plus, they are running ads against Obama's health care.
Source: Brookings Institute
And if you haven't gotten enough about billionaires yet...
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