Musk spent US$276mil to boost Republicans in midterms

Tech billionaire Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has donated $276 million to groups supporting conservative American political candidates ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, according to US media reports on Monday. This single contribution makes Musk the biggest individual donor for the November 3 elections, as noted by the New York Times.

In total, Musk has spent $366 million during this election cycle. The biggest beneficiary of Musk's largesse has been the Republican's Senate Leadership Fund, which received $158 million to help keep the party's majority in the upper chamber of Congress. Despite historically narrow margins, this funding aims to secure that advantage.

Musk's electoral spending is not a new phenomenon; he contributed $290 million in 2024 to aid President Donald Trump's reelection bid. During that time, Musk even had the opportunity to work at the White House, overseeing Trump's cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) project. However, their relationship soured, leading to Musk's departure from the White House role.

They have since mended their differences, with Trump even recognizing Musk's contributions by awarding him the National Medal of Science during a recent event in Washington D.C.