Billionaire and Republican megadonor Dick Uihlein has emerged as one of the biggest backers of former President Donald Trump’s campaign in the last quarter, alongside billionaires Miriam Adelson and Elon Musk. Uihlein poured nearly $49 million into the conservative Restoration PAC, making total donations of nearly $59 million to the group since the start of the year. The PAC, in turn, made contributions of nearly $20 million to various conservative and pro-Trump groups in the third quarter, including Moms for Liberty Action, Women Speak Out PAC, and Turn Out For America.
Dick and Liz Uihlein, whose fortunes are estimated at $6 billion each, promised to support Trump’s campaign after previously backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ bid for the presidency. The Uihleins were initially among the biggest donors to DeSantis’ campaign to challenge Trump in 2023, but after DeSantis dropped out and endorsed Trump, the Uihleins shifted their support to the former president. The couple founded their shipping supplies company Uline in 1980, which now does over $6 billion per year in sales. They have a history of donating to Republican candidates and have supported Trump’s “America First” trade policies.
FEC filings for the third quarter also revealed significant contributions from other pro-Trump donors. Miriam Adelson, widow of former casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson, donated $95 million to the pro-Trump Preserve America PAC, while Elon Musk contributed around $75 million to his pro-Trump America PAC. These contributions, along with Uihlein’s donations, totaled $218.7 million in the last quarter, underscoring the significant financial support behind Trump’s campaign efforts. Adelson’s donations have largely gone towards funding presidential campaign ads, while Musk’s spending on backing Trump reached $45 million per month.
The Uihleins’ support for Trump comes after a shift from their initial backing of DeSantis, who dropped out of the Republican primary in January and endorsed Trump. In an interview with the Financial Times in March, Liz Uihlein stated that they would be supporting Trump’s campaign, having already contributed $1.5 million each to the DeSantis campaign. The couple’s commitment to supporting Trump highlights their dedication to conservative causes and candidates. The Uihleins, alongside Adelson and Musk, have become some of Trump’s top billionaire donors, signaling strong financial backing for the former president’s political endeavors.
