Billionaire Timothy Mellon, heir to the Mellon banking fortune and grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, made headlines by donating $50 million to Make America Great Again Inc., a super PAC supporting President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign. This significant contribution came just one day after Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money trial, as reported by Quartz and confirmed by records filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Mellon’s donation represents nearly three-quarters of the $70 million raised by the super PAC in the past month, highlighting his unwavering support for Trump and the MAGA movement. This financial boost underscores Mellon’s belief in Trump’s cause despite the recent legal setbacks.
According to Forbes, Mellon is a descendant of Thomas Mellon, an Irish immigrant who built a substantial fortune in real estate and banking after arriving in the U.S. in 1818. The Mellon family, including Timothy’s grandfather Andrew Mellon, a former U.S. Treasury Secretary, is currently worth over $14 billion, making them the 34th richest family in the U.S.
Mellon has a history of supporting conservative causes and candidates. In 2010, he donated $1.5 million to Arizona to help cover legal costs for SB 1070, a controversial anti-immigration bill. In 2021, he contributed more than $53 million to support Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s border wall project. Mellon has also funded various Republican-aligned super PACs to promote conservative candidates.
Mellon’s substantial donation aligns him with other billionaire supporters of Trump. The Winklevoss twins endorsed Trump and contributed $2 million to his 2024 campaign. Following the announcement of Trump’s guilty verdict, Sequoia Capital Partner Shaun Maguire donated $300,000, while Jacob Helberg, a former Democratic supporter, switched his allegiance and gave $1 million to Trump.
Miriam Adelson, new Dallas Mavericks majority owner and casino magnate, pledged significant financial backing for Trump’s 2024 campaign through the Preserve America super PAC. Other notable donors include Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, who gave a combined $10 million, Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus, who contributed $1 million, and Marvel Entertainment’s former chairman and CEO Isaac Perlmutter and his wife Laura, who donated $10.1 million to a pro-Trump super PAC. Linda McMahon, WWE co-founder, is Trump’s second-largest donor with an $11 million contribution.
These contributions reflect the growing financial support from wealthy individuals for Trump’s 2024 presidential bid, demonstrating their continued commitment to his political vision despite his legal challenges.
