Make America Great Again Inc., also known as MAGA Inc., is a super PAC that supported former president Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. 1 The organization was founded in 2022. 2 Politico labeled MAGA Inc. as the “principal Trump-aligned super PAC” during the 2024 election. 2
During the 2024 election cycle, the super PAC spent $57.6 million in support of former president Donald Trump. In addition, it spent $251.7 million to oppose the presidential campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris, and an additional $34.2 million opposing the reelection campaign of President Joe Biden. 3
Investor Timothy Mellon, the grandson of former U.S. Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, was the largest donor, giving $150 million to Make America Great Again Inc. 4 5
Background
Make America Great Again Inc. is a super PAC based in Beverly Massachusetts, that supported former President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. 1 MAGA Inc. was founded in 2022. 2 Politico labeled it the “principal Trump-aligned super PAC” during the 2024 election. 2
Personnel
Taylor Budowich, a former Trump campaign aide, was the CEO of Make America Great Again Inc. as of May 2024. 6 Following Budowich’s departure from the organization to join former president Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, MAGA Inc.’s top strategists included David Lee and Chris Grant. 2
Charles Gant is the treasurer for the Make America Great Again Inc. 1
Pollster Tony Fabrizio and spokesperson Karoline Leavitt were part of the super PAC before leaving to join the Trump 2024 presidential campaign. 2
Funding
Make America Great Again Inc. spent $376,948,614 on during the 2024 election cycle, providing support to former president Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. 7
In addition, Make America Great Again Inc. spent $251,784,411 opposing Vice President Kamala Harris‘s presidential campaign and an additional $34,291,066 opposing the presidential campaign of President Joe Biden. 3
During the 2024 Republican primary, the PAC spent $57,696,164 in support of Trump, $23,198,378 opposing the presidential campaign for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), $9,880,863 opposing the presidential campaign of former U.S Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and $91,532 opposing the presidential campaign of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R). 3 The super PAC also spent $6,200 opposing the independent presidential candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 3
During the 2024 cycle, the PAC spent 91.81 percent of its money on media, or $349,927,765. The super PAC also spent $15,253,023 on campaign expenses and $10,223,254 on strategy and research. 3
Donors
Investor Timothy Mellon donated $150,000,000 to Make America Great Again Inc. 3 Mellon is the grandson of venture capitalist Andrew Mellon, who invested in companies that became Gulf Oil and Alcoa and would later serve as U.S. Treasury Secretary from 1921 through 1932 in the Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover administrations. The Mellon family has a net worth of $14.1 billion. 5
The group Securing American Greatness, run by former CEO of MAGA Inc. Taylor Budowich, gave $62 million to MAGA Inc. After the 2024 presidential election, Trump announced he was hiring Budowich as deputy chief of staff. 8
Persons associated with America First Policies donated $20,250,000 to Make America Great Again Inc. 4
Persons associated with Hendricks Holding Co. donated $15,000,000 to MAGA Inc. 4
Persons associated with Bigelow Aerospace donated $14,175,400 to MAGA Inc. 4
Persons associated with Uline Inc. donated $10,000,000 to the Make America Great Again PAC. 4 It is owned by political donors Richard Uihlein and Elizabeth Uihlein. 9
Linda McMahon, formerly the head of the Small Business Administration during the First Trump Administration and the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, donated $5 million to the PAC. 5
By OpenSecrets’s classification, most donations to MAGA, Inc., or 63.4 percent of the total donations, were reported to originate from finance/insurance/real estate industries and persons associated with them, totaling $207,424,072. It was also reported that 9.03 percent of donations came from ideology/single issue groups and people associated with them, for a total of $29,615,033. 10
References
- “Make America Great Again PAC Inc.” Open Secrets. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/make-america-great-again-inc/C00825851/summary/2024
- Isenstadt, Alex. “Pro-Trump super PAC plans $100M ad blitz.” Politico. August 12, 2024. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/12/trump-super-pac-100-million-ad-00173644
- “Make America Great Again PAC Inc.” Open Secrets. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/outside-spending/detail/2024?cmte=C00825851&tab=targeted_candidates
- “Make America Great Again PAC Inc.” Open Secrets. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/outside-spending/detail/2024?cmte=C00825851&tab=donors
- Ray, Siladitya. “Trump’s Biggest Donor Gave Another $25 Million To MAGA PAC In September.” Forbes. October 21, 2024. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/10/21/trumps-biggest-donor-gave-another-25-million-to-maga-pac-in-september/
- Cameron, Chris. “Pro-Trump PAC Joins TikTok Amid Fight Over Its Chinese Ownership.” New York Times. May 8, 2024. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/08/us/politics/trump-pac-tiktok.html
- [1] “Make America Great Again PAC Inc.” Open Secrets. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/outside-spending/detail?cmte=C00825851&cycle=2024
- Moore, David. “Trump Got Last-Minute ‘Dark Money’ Injection.” Read Sludge. December 10, 2024. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://readsludge.com/2024/12/10/trump-got-last-minute-dark-money-injection/
- Goldmacher, Shane and Schleifer, Theodore. “Timothy Mellon, Secretive Donor, Gives $50 Million to Pro-Trump Group.” New York Times. June 20, 2024. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/20/us/politics/timothy-mellon-trump-donation.html
- “Make America Great Again PAC Inc.” Open Secrets. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/outside-spending/detail/2024?cmte=C00825851&tab=industries