Kamala Harris secured the Democratic Party’s nomination for the presidency within a mere 13 days of announcing her candidacy. However, her path to victory in the general election will not be as smooth. In order to compete against the former president, Harris will need the support of her wealthy backers, many of whom supported her successful run for Senate in 2016. Despite a couple of previous backers declining to donate this time around, Harris still has strong ties with billionaires such as Magic Johnson and Sean Parker, as well as new supporters like Reid Hoffman, who has already contributed $7 million to a super PAC supporting her campaign.
During her 2016 Senate campaign, Kamala Harris received significant financial support from several billionaire donors. Sean and Alexandra Parker, with a net worth of $2.8 billion, donated $150,800 to Harris’s campaign groups. Ron Burkle, a self-made businessman with a net worth of $2.9 billion, contributed $120,800 to support Harris. Haim and Cheryl Saban, with a net worth of $3 billion, also donated $102,700 to Harris’s groups. Marc and Lynne Benioff, with a net worth of $8.9 billion, contributed $80,800 but have since stated that they do not financially support or endorse any politicians.
Additionally, Ron Perelman, with a net worth of $1.9 billion, donated $25,400 to Harris’s groups in 2016. Len and Emily Blavatnik, with a net worth of $29.2 billion, contributed $20,800, as did Henry and Marsha Laufer and Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker, who have a net worth of $2.6 billion and $3.7 billion, respectively. Meanwhile, Eric and Susan Smidt, with a net worth of $11.1 billion, donated $20,600. Magic and Cookie Johnson, with a net worth of $1.2 billion, also supported Harris through donations and endorsements, leveraging Magic Johnson’s success as an NBA star and entrepreneur.
Despite the significant financial backing received from these billionaire donors, some have chosen not to support Harris in the upcoming election. However, Harris still maintains strong ties with several wealthy individuals, indicating that she will likely continue to receive substantial financial support for her presidential campaign. As the race heats up, Harris will rely on her extensive network of backers to compete against her opponents and pave the way for a successful bid for the presidency.
