EXCLUSIVE: Democrat Joe Biden's record-breaking fundraising haul was aided by broad support from celebrities who have poured at least $13.1 million into boosting his White House bid.
Roughly
6,165 people involved in showbusiness and professional sports rallied
behind the former vice president by donating to Biden's presidential
campaign and pro-Biden political action committees, according to
campaign finance data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics exclusively for Fox News.
In comparison, roughly 525 people in the entertainment world donated money to help reelect President Trump, the donor data through Oct. 14 shows.
While
Trump, the former reality TV star, had far fewer celebrity backers for
his reelection effort, he matched Biden's celebrity donor total of about
$13 million thanks to one wealthy entertainment leader.
US President Donald Trump shakes Ike Perlmutter, CEO of Marvel
Entertainment, hand before signing an executive order at the US
Department of Veterans Affairs April 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. / AFP
PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski (Photo credit should read BRENDAN
SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Isaac "Ike" Perlmutter, chairman of Marvel
Entertainment that produces action-hero movies, gave a pro-Trump super
PAC $10.5 million in September to help boost Trump's efforts to win a
second term. Perlmutter, a billionaire Israeli-American executive, lists
Palm Beach County in Florida as his address and has wielded influence
with Trump as a pal and member of the president's Mar-a-Lago club,
according to ProPublica. Perlmutter donated to the pro-Trump America First Action group.
In
total, data obtained by Fox News tracked $26.3 million in donations
from nearly 6,700 individuals who listed an occupation related to show
business or professional sports who gave to Trump or Biden's
presidential campaign or other groups supporting them.
By far,
the largest pro-Biden and pro-Trump fundraising committees are the
candidates' campaigns themselves, but they are supported by outside
groups that have fewer restrictions on donation limits.
The main pro-Biden groups tracked
in the data include Priorities USA Action, Future Forward USA, American
Bridge 21st Century, Unite the Country and Independence USA PAC. The
biggest pro-Trump outside groups tracked in the data are America First Action, Preserve America PAC, Committee to Defend the President and Great America PAC.
If
you take away the high-dollar super PAC checks, Biden has raised just
under $8 million from celebrities and Trump only $660,000. Contributions
directly to Biden and Trump's campaigns are capped at a max of $5,600
per individual, whereas super PACs can raise unlimited funds from
individuals.
CLARKSTON, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 19: Jay DeMarcus of the band
Rascal Flatts performs at DTE Energy Center on September 19, 2019 in
Clarkston, Michigan. (Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images) DeMarcus
donated money for Trump's reelection.
The research was compiled by the Center for
Responsive Politics by searching Biden and Trump donations by
occupations related to Hollywood, entertainment and professional
athletes -- such as actors, actresses, producers, directors and more.
The imperfect donor list includes lesser-known actors and people working
behind the scenes in the entertainment industry and may have omitted
some big-name stars depending on how they listed their profession on
campaign finance forms.
But the data provides a concrete look
into how celebrities are favoring the presidential candidates. Beyond a
bevy of Hollywood actors and celebrity A-listers posting their support
for Biden on social media, there is a broad effort among the
entertainment community to put their money where their mouth is. Trump
has far fewer donors in show business, but thanks to the checks of a few
well-off individuals to super PACs, Trump is holding his own with
celebrity cash.
Perlmutter is by far the most generous individual
donor from the entertainment industry from either the GOP or Democratic
side. Another big-name Trump donor is Woody Johnson, the billionaire
co-owner of the New York Jets NFL football team who Trump appointed
as ambassador to the United Kingdom. Johnson donated $1 million to the
America First Action super PAC in May, records show.
Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting
Championship and public supporter of Trump, also gave $1 million to
America First Action.
Trump hasn’t garnered much support from
Hollywood, but he has a few professional athletes, NFL owners and
entertainers in his corner.
NFL
Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Edward Glazer and Cincinnati Bengals owner
Mike Brown each donated $5,600 to Trump. Mike Priefer, the special teams
coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, also pitched in $500.
Athletes
who donated money to help Trump’s reelection include Derek Holland, a
professional baseball free agent who most recently pitched for
the Pittsburgh Pirates; Richie Incognito, an offensive guard for the
NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, Bryan Bulaga, an offensive tackle for the Los
Angeles Chargers; and Zack Cozart, who played for the Los Angeles
Angels.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 22: Richie Incognito #64 of the
Oakland Raiders leves the field after a game against the Minnesota
Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Minneapolis,
Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Raiders 34-14. (Photo by Hannah
Foslien/Getty Images)
Actor Randy Quaid pitched in $750 for Trump, former
General Hospital star Chad Brannon donated $2,100 and Jay Demarcus, of
the country group Rascal Flatts, donated $500 to Trump in June, records
show.
But Biden, by far, was buoyed by many more donors thanks to
liberal Hollywood backers. He netted about 92 percent of the nearly
6,700 donors related to the show business, sports and entertainment
industries.
Director Steven Spielberg speaks during an Apple special event at
the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California, U.S., March 25, 2019.
REUTERS/Stephen Lam - HP1EF3P1FPZPA
The largest Democratic donations for Biden came from
famed filmmaker Steven Spielberg and his wife, retired actress Kate
Capshaw, who together gave more than $2.5 million to three super PACs
supporting Biden and directly to his campaign. Their money was largely
spent on three pro-Biden outside groups Pacronym ($1 million combined
from the couple), Priorities USA Action ($1 million) and American Bridge
21st Century ($500,000).
The next biggest celebrity donor was “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane who gave $700,000 to pro-Biden Priorities USA Action.
New
York theater producer Edward “Ted” Snowdon donated more than $255,000
to American Bridge 21st Century and to the Biden campaign and Los
Angeles TV producer Marcy Carsey donated more than $200,000 to the same
groups. Jeffrey Katzenberg, co-founder of Dreamworks Animation, donated
$200,000 that was split between two anti-Trump groups.
Actor Seth MacFarlane poses at the world premiere of the film
"Sing" in Los Angeles, California, December 3, 2016. REUTERS/Danny
Moloshok
“Friends” co-creator Marta Kauffman donated $130,000
for pro-Biden efforts and businessman and film producer Sidney Kimmel
gave more than $100,000. Tom Werner, Boston Red Sox chairman and TV
producer, donated nearly $80,000.
Also supporting Biden from the
sports world were Arn Tellem, vice chairman of the Detroit Pistons, who
gave more than $18,000; Christina Weiss Lurie, film producer and part
owner of NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, who gave $15,600. Larry Lucchino,
former president and CEO of the Boston Red Sox, gave $12,800. Other
Biden donors include Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II,
sportscaster Suzyn Waldman, NBA Coach Stan Van Gundy, Pittsburgh
Penguins President and CEO David Morehouse, Chicago Bears football
player Bobby Massie and baseball manager Rocco Baldelli, records show.
Dozens
of celebrities rallied behind Biden for his White House bid and gave
thousands of dollars to help him. Among the biggest donors
are moviemaker Rob Reiner ($15,600), musician John Legend
($14,200), actress Rene Russo $11,167), filmmaker Judd Apatow ($10,000),
actor Edward Norton ($8,400) and author and TV host Padma Lakshmi
($8,000).
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - JANUARY 21: Presenter Jerry Springer on
stage at the 2nd Annual Global TV Demand Awards at Fontainebleau Hotel
on January 21, 2020 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Parra/Getty
Images for Parrot Analytics)
Among the other actors and actresses who gave at
least $5,600 were Alyssa Milano, Annette Bening, Rita Wilson, George
Clooney, Mindy Kaling, Kathy Bates, Drew Carey, Sarah Paulson, Ed Helms,
Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Garner and Bette Midler.
Others who donated at least $5,600 for Biden were producer and director
Ryan Murphy, TV creator Shonda Rhimes, singer Barbra Streisand and
filmmaker Tyler Perry.
Shia LaBeouf poses backstage with his 2019 Hollywood Breakthrough
Screenwriter Award for "Honey Boy." REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
Celebrities who pitched in somewhere between $5,500
and $2,800 included actors Lily Tomlin, Shia LaBeouf, Laurie Metcalf,
Sam Waterston, George Takei; Dustin Hoffman, Debra Messing, Kate Hudson,
Taraji Henson, Lucy Liu, Kyra Sedgwick, Sterling Brown, Ben Stiller,
Candice Bergen, comedian Wanda Sykes and filmmaker Patty Jenkins.
Biden
2020 donors also included TV hosts Dave Letterman, Jerry Springer and
chef Rachael Ray. A "James Kimmel" from California who listed ABC as his
employer and his job as broadcaster donated $3,800 to Biden this year,
too. A rep for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel did not immediately respond
to a request for comment.
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 15: Rachael Ray is seen outside Good
Morning America on January 15, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond
Hall/GC Images)
Other celebrities to gave at least $1,000 to support
Biden include Sally Field, Mark Ruffalo, Val Kilmer, Helen Hunt, Glenn
Close, comedian Phoebe Robinson, Josh Gad, Steve Buscemi, Tom Hanks,
comedian Amy Schumer, Sharon Stone, Meredith Baxter, Edie Falco, Allison
Janney, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ben Affleck and Jane Fonda.
Some
studio and talent executives also wrote checks for Biden. His
well-connected backers include Marvel Studios president Kevin
Feige; Alan F. Horn, co-chairman of Walt Disney Studios; MGM film group
chairman Michael De Luca; Jeremy Zimmer, CEO of United Talent Agency,
and Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, records show.
The
high-profile endorsements and campaign cash are still just a drop in the
bucket to the massive 2020 spending effort. The Center for Responsive
Politics projects the total cost of the 2020 election
will nearly hit an unprecedented $14 billion, making it the most
expensive election in history and twice as expensive as the previous
presidential election cycle.