In the world of politics, money talks. And in the case of Robert Mercer, a reclusive billionaire hedge fund manager, it speaks volumes. Known for his deep pockets and conservative beliefs, Mercer has made headlines in recent years for his hefty contributions to political causes and candidates.
But what may come as a surprise to many is that he has also poured millions into supporting liberal figures such as environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Here’s a breakdown of how this mysterious billionaire has spent a staggering amount of money on political causes:
- Mercer’s support for Donald Trump: In the 2016 US presidential election, Mercer became one of the biggest financial backers of then-candidate Donald Trump. According to federal campaign finance records, he and his daughter Rebekah Mercer donated a total of $25 million to a pro-Trump super PAC called “Make America Number 1.” This made them the second-largest donors to the group, trailing only Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson.
- Investing in Breitbart News: Another way Mercer has shown his support for Trump is through his investment in Breitbart News, a far-right media outlet that was previously run by Trump’s chief strategist Steve Bannon. In 2011, Mercer reportedly invested $10 million in the outlet, which has been known for promoting anti-immigrant and conspiracy theories.
- Political influence through data mining: Besides pouring money into campaigns, Mercer has also made his mark on politics through his company Cambridge Analytica. The firm was hired by the Trump campaign to gather data from millions of Facebook users without their consent in order to target them with political ads during the 2016 election.
- Supporting liberal causes: While Mercer is widely known for his conservative views, he has also surprised many with his support for environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Mercer has reportedly donated a total of $25 million to Kennedy’s environmental group, Waterkeeper Alliance, over the past two years.
- Influence in Washington: With such large sums of money being poured into political causes, it’s no surprise that Mercer has gained significant influence in Washington. In addition to his donations and investments, he also has ties to powerful figures such as former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and conservative mega-donor David Koch.
Despite his extreme wealth and political influence, Robert Mercer remains a largely mysterious figure who shies away from the public eye. But with millions of dollars at his disposal, his impact on American politics cannot be overlooked.
Only time will tell what other surprises this reclusive billionaire has up his sleeve. So, it’s clear that money plays a major role in shaping political outcomes and the actions of influential figures like Robert Mercer have far-reaching consequences.