The total topped the event’s own projections of $43 million.
Former President Donald Trump has secured another $50.5 million in funds for his 2024 reelection bid, almost doubling his opponent’s record-breaking haul of $26 million.
Hedge fund billionaire host John Paulson told The Epoch Times in an email on Saturday night that the event has now claimed the position of being the most successful political fundraiser in U.S. history.
“Tonight, we raised an historic $50.5 million for the re-election of President Trump. This sold-out event has raised the most in a single political fundraiser in history. This overwhelming support demonstrates the enthusiasm for President Trump and his policies.”
The fundraiser, dubbed the “Inaugural Leadership Dinner,” was held in Mr. Paulson’s $110 million home in Palm Beach, Florida.
Co-chairs of the event include Robert Bigelow, head of Las Vegas-based Bigelow Aerospace; Howard Lutnick, chairman and CEO of financial services company Cantor Fitzgerald LP; Robert Mercer, former co-leader of hedge fund Renaissance Technologies; Phil Ruffin, owner of Las Vegas’s Treasure Island and Circus Circus hotel-casinos; and Wynn Resorts Ltd. founder Steve Wynn, who served as the RNC’s finance chair from 2017 to 2018.
President Trump was in attendance alongside his wife Melania. Mr. Paulson’s girlfriend Alina de Almeida was also at the event, as well as former Republican presidential hopefuls including Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and Ohio businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.
Before walking into the fundraiser, President Trump said of America, “We’re the laughingstock all over the world, we’re going to get that changed very quickly. And this has been some incredible evening before it even starts because people, they wanted to contribute to a cause of ‘Making America Great Again,’ and that’s what’s happened. We’re going to make America great again, everyone knows it.”
Mr. Paulson told The Epoch Times before the event that organizers had already secured $43 million in support funds for President Trump’s 2024 reelection bid.
“There is massive support amongst a broad spectrum of donors,” Mr. Paulson said in a quote emailed to The Epoch Times.
By Melanie Sun and Janice Hisle
