How much money did Elon Musk spend on Republican candidates before the 2026 US midterm elections?

Musk contributed $276 million to organizations supporting right-wing candidates since July and spent $366 million in total during the election cycle. The Republican Senate Leadership Fund received $158 million, the largest share.

How can Elon Musk donate more than the US individual campaign contribution limit?

Although individual campaign donations are capped at $3,300, US campaign-finance rules allow donors to give much larger amounts to political action committees. These PACs support candidates and can receive mega-donor contributions.

Musk spent $276 mil. to boost Republicans in midterms: US media

Q: Which political groups received Elon Musk’s election donations?

Musk gave $76 million to his own America PAC, $20 million to the Republican Congressional Leadership Fund, $10 million each to the Republican Governors Association and Lone Star Liberty PAC, and $2 million to the Republican Attorneys General Association.

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Summary

Elon Musk contributed $276 million to organizations supporting right-wing candidates in the United States ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The spending made him the largest single donor for the elections, while his total contributions during the election cycle reached $366 million. The Republican Senate Leadership Fund received the largest share, $158 million, to help preserve the party’s Senate majority.

Key Facts

Musk donated $76 million during the summer to his own America PAC.
Other recipients included $20 million for the Republican Congressional Leadership Fund, $10 million each for the Republican Governors Association and Lone Star Liberty PAC, and $2 million for the Republican Attorneys General Association.
Musk contributed $290 million in 2024 to support Donald Trump’s reelection campaign.
US campaign rules cap individual donations at $3,300, but political action committees allow major donors to provide much larger sums.

By AFP

Published Oct 13, 2026 8:10 am KST

US President Donald Trump presents the National Medal of Science to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk during the 'A New Golden Age' summit at the U.S. Institute of Peace, renamed The Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace by the Trump administration, Washington, DC, US, Oct. 8. Reuters-Yonhap — US President Donald Trump presents the National Medal of Science to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk during the "A New Golden Age" summit at the U.S. Institute of Peace, renamed The Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace by the Trump administration, Washington, DC, US, Oct. 8. Reuters-Yonhap

WASHINGTON — Tech billionaire Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has contributed $276 million to organizations boosting the campaigns of right-wing American candidates ahead of upcoming midterm elections, US media reported Monday.

The sum, all contributed since July, positions Musk as the largest single donor for the November 3 elections, according to the New York Times. He has spent a total of $366 million this election cycle.

The largest funding recipient was the Republican's Senate Leadership Fund, receiving $158 million, aimed at maintaining the party's control of the upper house of Congress despite a slim margin.

The SpaceX and Tesla boss is no stranger to massive US election spending, having contributed $290 million in 2024 to help US President Donald Trump win reelection.

Trump allowed Musk to work in the White House for several months overseeing his cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) venture, but exited the role after a public falling out with the president.

They've since reconciled, and Trump awarded Musk the National Medal of Science at an event in DC last week.

Though individual campaign donations in the United States are capped at $3,300 per person, loopholes in the US campaign finance system allow political mega donors to contribute to funds known as political action committees or "PACs," which support candidates.

Musk donated $76 million this summer to his own America PAC, the New York Times reported.

Other recipients of Musk's political funding include $20 million to the Republican's Congressional Leadership Fund, $10 million each to the Republican Governors Association and the Lone Star Liberty PAC, and $2 million to the Republican Attorneys General Association.

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