Before results were even in on Election Day, some billionaires were doubling down on their presidential picks that they’ve mostly been outspoken about throughout the campaign season.
For Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, her billionaire backer (who hasn’t actually donated any money, only his time) Mark Cuban posted on X he was FaceTiming students waiting in long lines to vote, for one. LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman and his wife donated at least $10 million to a political action committee supporting Harris, and he posted multiple clips to X yesterday and today showing that support. Among the listed reasons he’s voting for Harris: her plan to build millions of homes will make life more affordable; she’ll keep insurrectionists in jail; she knows technology is important for a better future, she can be tough on crime, and is passionate about women having control over their lives.
Having a blast Facetiming students waiting in longgg lines @unccharlotte !!!.. Stick it out, Voting for @KamalaHarris is worth it !
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) November 5, 2024
But other billionaires have thrown their undying support behind former president and Republican nominee Donald Trump, one being billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, who showed his support—and an accompanying prediction. Late last night, he posted on X that he believes Trump “will win in a decisive victory and potentially a landslide Electoral College outcome.” He then posted today that he thinks it’ll be a Trump “landslide,” because “the American people almost always choose the most authentic candidate.”
Other than 2020, in my lifetime, the American people almost always choose the most authentic candidate. That’s why I think this one will be a @realDonaldTrump landslide.
— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) November 6, 2024
Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, is said to have given at least $132 million to elect Trump and other Republicans. He’s continued to be a surrogate for the campaign, whether it be appearing on Joe Rogan’s podcast, seemingly in an attempt to appeal to young male voters, or hosting an election discussion on his social media platform. Not to mention, Musk has used X to spar with other billionaires, such as venture capitalist Vinod Khosla—and that behavior continued today. In response to Musk saying he doesn’t know a single independent voter not voting for Trump, Khosla said: “Plain wrong. I am an independent that isn’t voting for Trump.”
The cavalry has arrived.
Men are voting in record numbers.
They now realize everything is at stake.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 5, 2024
Then there’s JPMorgan Chase chief executive Jamie Dimon, who chose not to endorse either candidate, but released a statement that reads: “Our country is now concluding one of the hardest fought and at times divisive elections in our recent history. Soon it will be time for all of us to unite behind our President elect and all of our national leaders. We must begin the work of bringing our nation together and focusing on the pressing economic and global issues before us.”
