Here Are The Billionaires Backing Pete Buttigieg’s Presidential Campaign
This is part of a series revealing the billionaires donating to Democrats running for president. See more on the supporters of Joe Biden, Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, Elizabeth Warren and Andrew Yang.
Forty billionaires and their spouses have donated to Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign, according to an analysis of federal election filings, making the South Bend, Indiana mayor a favorite among America’s richest people.
Forbes found that Buttigieg got donations from 13 big-money donors who gave exclusively to him—by far the most of any Democrat running for president. Two of those donors have connections to Donald Trump. Jennifer Pritzker, a transgender retired Army lieutenant colonel who inherited a chunk of the Hyatt hotels fortune and previously backed the president, is now giving to Buttigieg. So is Daryl Roth, the wife of Trump business partner Steven Roth.
More than one third of Buttigieg’s wealthy benefactors got rich in finance and investments. That group includes seven who built their fortunes from hedge funds, including Bill Ackman, Philippe Laffont and Seth Klarman.
Buttigieg has also received support from the tech industry. His donors include Wendy Schmidt, the wife of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and Netflix chief executive Reed Hastings, a duo that recently helped host a fundraiser for Buttigieg in Silicon Valley, according to Recode. A different California meetup, held in Napa Valley, got the attention of Elizabeth Warren, who criticized Buttigieg in the debate Thursday night for meeting with rich people in a “wine cave full of crystals.”
Read more in our series: Here Are The Billionaires Funding The Democratic Presidential Candidates
Buttigieg responded that taking donations from rich people did not make his campaign polluted by corrupt interests. “We need the support from everybody who is committed to helping us defeat Donald Trump,” he said.
According to the most recent filings, which reflect donations through September 30, Buttigieg has raised $52 million. The only two Democrats who have raised more? Warren and Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator who has rejected all donations from billionaires.
How Pete Buttigieg’s Donors Got Rich
Forbes found 40 billionaires and their spouses who have contributed to Buttigieg’s campaign. They built their fortunes in 10 industries.
Buttigieg’s billionaire backers, ranked by net worth:
LEN AND EMILY BLAVATNIK
Net worth: $19.6 billion *
Source of wealth: Diversified
Size of donation: $4,000
Also supported: Joe Biden
Other notable contributions: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ($248,500); McCarthy Victory Fund ($200,000), to support California Republican Representative Kevin McCarthy **
CHRISTOPHER MCKOWN, HUSBAND OF ABIGAIL JOHNSON
Spouse’s net worth: $15.9 billion
Source of wealth: Money management
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: No one directly
Wendy and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt in 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. Forbes found that Wendy Schmidt has only donated to Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign. Eric Schmidt has donated to the campaigns of Cory Booker and Joe Biden.
JOHN SCIULLI/GETTY IMAGES FOR DOMAIN INTEGRATEDWENDY SCHMIDT, WIFE OF ERIC SCHMIDT
Spouse’s net worth: $15.4 billion
Source of wealth: Google
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: No one directly
Other notable contributions: Katie Hill for Congress ($5,600) to support the California Democratic Representative; Tom Malinowski for Congress ($5,600) to support the New Jersey Democratic Representative
DAVID GEFFEN
Net worth: $8.7 billion
Source of wealth: Movies, record labels
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: No one directly
KATHARINE RAYNER
Net worth: $6.5 billion
Source of wealth: Media, automotive
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: Joe Biden
Other notable contributions: DCCC ($35,500)
DANIEL ZIFF
Net worth: $5 billion
Source of wealth: Investments
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: No one directly.
Other notable contributions: Big Sky Values PAC ($5,000) to support Montana Governor Steve Bullock
DIRK AND NATASHA ZIFF
Net worth: $5 billion
Source of wealth: Investments
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: No one directly.
Other notable contributions: DNC Services Corp./Dem. Nat'l Committee ($678,000)
JO CAROLE LAUDER, WIFE OF RONALD LAUDER
Spouse’s net worth: $4.3 billion
Size of donation: $2,800
Source of wealth: Estée Lauder
Also supported: No one directly
BARRY DILLER
Net worth: $4.1 billion
Source of wealth: Online media
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Amy Klobuchar
Other notable contributions: Lindsey Boylan for Congress ($2,800) to support the New York Democratic candidate
REED HASTINGS
Net worth: $3.9 billion
Source of wealth: Netflix
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: No one directly
JONATHAN GRAY
Net worth: $3.9 billion
Source of wealth: Blackstone
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Joe Biden, Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand (dropout), Amy Klobuchar, Kamala Harris (dropout), John Hickenlooper (dropout), Seth Moulton (dropout), Beto O’Rourke (dropout)
Other notable contributions: Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ($35,500); DCCC ($35,500)
Jon Stryker, who is an heir to the Stryker Corp. medical device fortune, in 2015 in New York City. Stryker has donated to presidential campaigns of Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand in 2019.
BENNETT RAGLIN/GETTY IMAGES FOR GLSENJON STRYKER
Net worth: $3.8 billion
Source of wealth: Medical equipment
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Kirsten Gillibrand (dropout), Kamala Harris (dropout)
Other notable contributions: SMP ($300,000), a super PAC that opposed Republican candidates for Congress in 2018, including Senator Josh Hawley, of Missouri, and Senator Rick Scott, of Florida
BARBARA HOSTETTER, WIFE OF AMOS HOSTETTER
Spouse’s net worth: $3.6 billion
Source of wealth: Cable television
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Michael Bennet, Kirsten Gillibrand (dropout), Seth Moulton (dropout)
Other notable contributions: Maintaining A Majority ($25,000) to support Democratic candidates in the House of Representatives
AMY GOLDMAN FOWLER
Net worth: $3.4 billion
Source of wealth: Real estate
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Amy Klobuchar
Other notable contributions: SMP ($500,000)
SUSAN PRITZKER, WIFE OF NICHOLAS PRITZKER
Spouse’s net worth: $2.2 billion
Source of wealth: Hotels, investments
Size of donation: $2,000
Also supported: Kirsten Gillibrand (dropout), Jay Inslee (dropout), Kamala Harris (dropout), Elizabeth Warren
Other notable contributions: Schiff Leads PAC ($5,000) to support California Democratic Representative, Adam Schiff
KATHY YARBROUGH, WIFE OF JON YARBROUGH
Spouse’s net worth: $2.2 billion
Source of wealth: Video games
Size of donation: $1,000
Also supported: Joe Biden
GLENN DUBIN
Net worth: $2 billion
Source of wealth: Hedge funds
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Michael Bennet, Steve Bullock (dropout)
JENNIFER PRITZKER
Net worth: $2 billion
Source of wealth: Hotels, investments
Size of donation: $1,000
Also supported: No one directly
Other notable contributions: Mike Gallagher for Wisconsin ($2,800) to support the Republican representative; Steil For Wisconsin ($2,800) to support Republican Representative Bryan Steil
REID HOFFMAN
Net worth: $1.9 billion
Source of wealth: LinkedIn
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, Steve Bullock, Kirsten Gillibrand (dropout), Jay Inslee (dropout), Kamala Harris (dropout), Amy Klobuchar
Other notable contributions: Democratic Grassroots Victory Fund ($865,000), a political action committee that supports state Democratic parties
BARBARA ALFOND, WIFE OF TED ALFOND
Spouse’s net worth: $1.8 billion
Source of wealth: Shoes
Size of donation: $350
Also supported: Beto O’Rourke (dropout)
MARC AND CATHY LASRY
Net worth: $1.8 billion
Source of wealth: Hedge funds
Size of donation: $3,500
Also supported: Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand (dropout), Kamala Harris (dropout), Amy Klobuchar, Joe Sestak (dropout)
Other notable contributions: Mark Kelly for Senate ($2,800) to support the Arizona Democratic candidate for Senate
WILLIAM ACKMAN AND NERI OXMAN
Net worth: $1.7 billion
Source of wealth: Hedge funds
Size of donation: $11,200
Also supported: Cory Booker, Michael Bennet
Other notable contributions: Mark Kelly for Senate ($2,800); Collins for Senator ($5,400) to support Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins; Mikie Sherrill for Congress ($5,600) to support the New Jersey Democratic representative
NICOLE SYSTROM, WIFE OF KEVIN SYSTROM
Spouse’s net worth: $1.6 billion
Source of wealth: Instagram
Size of donation: $1,000
Also supported: Cory Booker, Jay Inslee (dropout)
JONATHAN TISCH
Net worth: $1.6 billion
Source of wealth: Insurance, NFL team
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar
Other notable contributions: Priorities USA Action ($100,000), a political action committee that opposes Republicans and support Democratic candidates
Hedge fund billionaire Seth Klarman at a conference in 2014 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Klarman has contributed to the campaigns of Democratic candidates Pete Buttigieg, Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, John Delaney, Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar.
SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGESSETH KLARMAN
Net worth: $1.5 billion
Source of wealth: Hedge funds
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, John Delaney, Kamala Harris (dropout), Amy Klobuchar
Other notable contributions: Weld 2020 Presidential Campaign Committee ($5,600) to support Republican presidential candidate Bill Weld; DSCC ($150,000); DCCC ($213,000)
PHILIPPE LAFFONT
Net worth: $1.4 billion
Source of wealth: Hedge funds
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: No one directly
ANNA MCKELVEY, WIFE OF JIM MCKELVEY
Net worth: $1.3 billion
Source of wealth: Square
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Cory Booker
MIMI HAAS
Net worth: $1.2 billion
Source of wealth: Levi’s jeans
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: No one directly.
Other notable contributions: Schiff Leads PAC ($1,500)
CHRIS AND CRYSTAL SACCA
Net worth: $1.2 billion
Source of wealth: Venture capital
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris (dropout), Jay Inslee (dropout), Beto O’Rourke (dropout), Elizabeth Warren
Other notable contributions: Kathleen Williams for Montana ($5,600) to support the Democratic candidate’s congressional campaign; Amy McGrath for Senate ($4,200) to support the Kentucky Democratic candidate
DANIEL AND MICHELLE LUBETZKY
Net worth: $1.1 billion
Source of wealth: KIND Healthy Snacks
Size of donation: $5,600
Also supported: Joe Biden, Beto O’Rourke (dropout)
Other notable contributions: Kentucky State Democratic Central Executive Committee ($10,000), Weld 2020 Presidential Campaign Committee ($2,800)
FRED LUDDY
Net worth: $1.1 billion
Source of wealth: Software
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: No one directly.
Other notable contributions: Sasse Leadership Committee ($7,600) to support Republican Senator of Nebraska, Ben Sasse
Daryl Roth, who is married to real estate billionaire Steven Roth, at the opening night of a play in September 2019 in New York City.
BRUCE GLIKAS/GETTY IMAGESDARYL ROTH, WIFE OF STEVEN ROTH
Spouse’s net worth: $1.1 billion
Source of wealth: Real estate
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: No one directly
LAURIE TISCH
Net worth: $1.1 billion
Source of wealth: Insurance, NFL team
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Joe Biden, Cory Booker
Other notable contributions: Planned Parenthood Votes ($10,000); Iowa Democratic Party ($10,000)
STEVEN TISCH
Net worth: $1.1 billion
Source of wealth: Insurance, NFL team
Size of donation: $2,800
Also supported: Cory Booker
* Forbes Real-Time net worth as of Dec. 20, 2019.
** Contribution amounts represent donations given from January to September 2019, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
This post will be updated as new federal filings are released.
Additional reporting by Giacomo Tognini
Staff writer at Forbes. Email me at mtindera@forbes.com and follow me on Twitter @mtindera07.
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