Some of the biggest pro-Trump donors in 2024 are running for administration jobs

On By Littum

A handful of mega-donors helped power Donald Trump’s presidential campaign to victory earlier this month. Now some of them are being considered for big jobs as he shapes his next administration.

For decades, top donors to winning presidential campaigns have been in the mix for top administrative slots, from plum ambassadorial gigs in tropical locales to cabinet positions that directly shape White House policies.

And now, as Trump continues to fill out the top layers of his transition and administration, some key donors appear to be in the fray.

Linda McMahon, the former professional wrestling executive who ran Trump’s Small Business Administration in his first term and has served as a leader in a number of pro-Trump outside groups, is helping to lead his transition. She donated more than $21 million to help Trump’s campaign this election cycle — more than $20 million to Make America Great Again Inc. super PAC and another $937,800 to his campaign and affiliated joint fundraising committees.

(These numbers are current as of Oct. 16, the period covered by the latest federal campaign filings. New documents to be filed in December will show the full picture of donations leading up to Election Day.)

McMahon’s co-head of the transition, Howard Lutnick, gave Trump’s campaign and associated committees more than $400,000, plus another $6 million to MAGA Inc. Trump announced Tuesday that Lutnick is his choice to lead the Commerce Department.

Chris Wright, Liberty Energy’s CEO, who was tapped to be Trump’s energy secretary, gave the campaign and associated committees more than $235,000.

Two candidates reportedly in the mix for finance minister have another thing in common — mega-donor status.

Scott Bessent, a top Trump fundraiser who two sources familiar with the process tell NBC News has been in the mix to lead the Treasury Department, donated more than $1 million to MAGA Inc. and another $676,500 to Trump’s campaign and associated committees.

Marc Rowan, billionaire CEO of Apollo Global Management, gave $1 million to Right for America, a pro-Trump super PAC. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Trump advisers have discussed him as a possible option for the treasury post.

Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO and billionaire tapped by Trump to lead an effort to cut federal spending, spent handsomely to help Trump get into office, primarily by starting a super PAC, America PAC, which ran field organizing to boost Trump. The super PAC also ran a controversial program that gave away $1 million checks to swing-state voters who signed Musk’s petition. Through mid-October, Musk had given that group more than $118.5 million.

Ike Perlmutter, a billionaire who previously helped Marvel Entertainment and who advised Trump on veterans issues during the first administration, and his wife jointly sent Right for America $25 million by October 16.

Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law who served as his senior adviser during his first term, gave the campaign and affiliated committees more than $851,000. (His father, Charles Kushner, who was pardoned by Trump, gave the same amount plus another $1.2 million to a pro-Trump super PAC).

Of course, not all major donors will end up in the Trump administration.

After Musk, two other mega-donors eclipsed $100 million in donations to pro-Trump groups: businessman Tim Mellon (who gave at least $150 million) and Miriam Adelson, the casino magnate who owns the Dallas Mavericks and is the wife of the late GOP mega-donor Sheldon Adelson. She gave nearly $101 million, according to the latest public figures.

Ben Kamisar

Ben Kamisar is a national political reporter for NBC News

Faith Wardwell

Hallie Jackson and Garrett Haake the contribution.