Elon Musk Identified as the Force Behind Enigmatic Pro-Trump Super PAC Citing Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The individual regarded as the wealthiest person globally was probably the foremost private contributor to political campaigns in the 2024 election.
TroibNews 
Elon Musk was the sole funder of a super PAC that emerged in the closing weeks of the election, which allocated millions on ads asserting that Donald Trump’s stance on abortion mirrored that of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The $20.5 million Musk invested in RBG PAC represented just a minor portion of his overall political contributions this year, which totaled $238 million to another super PAC he founded and additional millions to various GOP organizations.
In total, Musk committed over $260 million to the 2024 election cycle, positioning him as likely the largest individual political contributor this season.
His role in America PAC was widely recognized, with the tech CEO attending events in swing states, promoting the super PAC on X, and conducting public sweepstakes. However, his involvement with RBG PAC was more clandestine. Musk contributed $20.5 million to the group on October 24, a fact that went unreported until the super PAC filed a campaign finance report with the Federal Election Commission late Thursday. The timing of the donation allowed for his support to be concealed until after the election, and neither he nor the super PAC publicly acknowledged his contribution.
RBG PAC allocated nearly all its funds to advertising, which claimed that Ginsburg, known for her strong advocacy of women's rights and a liberal voice on the Court until her death in 2020, shared “one mind” with Trump on abortion matters. Its website showcased images of Trump and Ginsburg with the tagline “great minds think alike.”
While justices typically refrain from commenting on presidential politics, Ginsburg’s granddaughter revealed that her grandmother’s dying wish was for her not to be succeeded by Trump. Trump appointed Amy Coney Barrett to replace her shortly before the 2020 election; Barrett later sided with the judicial majority that reversed Roe v. Wade two years afterward.
The surge of advertising from RBG PAC occurred in the campaign’s closing weeks, in response to a sustained effort by Democrats to target Trump over abortion, especially after the court’s ruling that he influenced, which resulted in numerous states restricting the procedure.
Musk, who is expected to advise Trump through the proposed Department of Government Efficiency, emerged as a significant political figure this year, endorsing Trump and campaigning with him extensively. While much of his spending focused on the presidential race, he also invested millions in down-ballot contests.
His America PAC raised $252 million throughout the cycle, with late expenditures approaching $41 million tied to a petition the group circulated that included promises of $1 million giveaways to selected signers and smaller incentives to others for referring additional voters. The organization spent tens of millions on canvassing and direct mail during the presidential race and a few million across various House elections.
In late October, Musk contributed $3 million to a super PAC associated with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and $924,600 to the Trump 47 Committee, marking his first direct donation to Trump’s campaign. This joint fundraising committee allocates funds to Trump’s campaign as well as the Republican National Committee and other GOP entities.
Additionally, Musk made a $1 million donation to the GOP-aligned super PAC Early Vote Action and several hundred thousand dollars to a joint fundraising committee tied to Rep. Ken Calvert.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
The $20.5 million Musk invested in RBG PAC represented just a minor portion of his overall political contributions this year, which totaled $238 million to another super PAC he founded and additional millions to various GOP organizations.
In total, Musk committed over $260 million to the 2024 election cycle, positioning him as likely the largest individual political contributor this season.
His role in America PAC was widely recognized, with the tech CEO attending events in swing states, promoting the super PAC on X, and conducting public sweepstakes. However, his involvement with RBG PAC was more clandestine. Musk contributed $20.5 million to the group on October 24, a fact that went unreported until the super PAC filed a campaign finance report with the Federal Election Commission late Thursday. The timing of the donation allowed for his support to be concealed until after the election, and neither he nor the super PAC publicly acknowledged his contribution.
RBG PAC allocated nearly all its funds to advertising, which claimed that Ginsburg, known for her strong advocacy of women's rights and a liberal voice on the Court until her death in 2020, shared “one mind” with Trump on abortion matters. Its website showcased images of Trump and Ginsburg with the tagline “great minds think alike.”
While justices typically refrain from commenting on presidential politics, Ginsburg’s granddaughter revealed that her grandmother’s dying wish was for her not to be succeeded by Trump. Trump appointed Amy Coney Barrett to replace her shortly before the 2020 election; Barrett later sided with the judicial majority that reversed Roe v. Wade two years afterward.
The surge of advertising from RBG PAC occurred in the campaign’s closing weeks, in response to a sustained effort by Democrats to target Trump over abortion, especially after the court’s ruling that he influenced, which resulted in numerous states restricting the procedure.
Musk, who is expected to advise Trump through the proposed Department of Government Efficiency, emerged as a significant political figure this year, endorsing Trump and campaigning with him extensively. While much of his spending focused on the presidential race, he also invested millions in down-ballot contests.
His America PAC raised $252 million throughout the cycle, with late expenditures approaching $41 million tied to a petition the group circulated that included promises of $1 million giveaways to selected signers and smaller incentives to others for referring additional voters. The organization spent tens of millions on canvassing and direct mail during the presidential race and a few million across various House elections.
In late October, Musk contributed $3 million to a super PAC associated with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and $924,600 to the Trump 47 Committee, marking his first direct donation to Trump’s campaign. This joint fundraising committee allocates funds to Trump’s campaign as well as the Republican National Committee and other GOP entities.
Additionally, Musk made a $1 million donation to the GOP-aligned super PAC Early Vote Action and several hundred thousand dollars to a joint fundraising committee tied to Rep. Ken Calvert.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
