Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg quietly donated $50 million to support Vice President Kamala Harris.
The New York Times first reported Monday on the donation - made to a nonprofit organization supporting the Democratic nominee - as Bloomberg has been much quieter this presidential election cycle than four years ago.
In 2020 he ran in the Democratic primary, but after an embarrassing Nevada debate performance and winning only American Samoa, he dropped out and endorsed President Joe Biden.
He also funneled hundreds of millions toward Bidens campaign, announcing in mid-September 2020 that he would put $100 million of his own money toward the goal of helping Biden flip Florida back - which didnt happen.
This year, according to the Times, Bloomberg was begged by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, LinkedIns Reid Hoffman and investor Ron Conway to pony up cash before it was too late.
Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg quietly donated $50 million
Bloomberg had a private conversation over the phone with Harris recently, the newspaper also said.
The billionaire businessman and former New York City mayor has always refused to make early investments in campaigns.
Instead hes tried to fill holes late in the game.
But this years donation came only recently and Election Day is just eight days away.
The donation was to Future Forward USA Action, the dark money group associated with Harris principle super PAC, Future Forward.
The 82-year-old Bloomberg has an estimated net worth of $105 billion.
Prior to the fresh $50 million donation, Bloomberg was the second highest donor this cycle after billionaire liberal George Soros, giving $47 million to Democrats.
The New York Times reported that Michael Bloomberg (left) was left scarred from his 2020 presidential run, where he was humiliated onstage by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (third from left)
But thats small potatoes compared to the $95 million he donated to Democrats in 2018, as they tried to take back Congress amid Trumps term in office.
Altogether during the Trump era, Bloomberg gave more than $250 million in the 2018 and 2020 campaign cycles.
On his own run, he spent $1.1 billion.
He spent an additional $173 million to get Biden and other Democrats across the line.
Thats $126 million more than Bloomberg has spent this cycle - despite Trump again being the Republican nominee.
Bloombergs spending was unusual in 2020, some sources argued, because he was a presidential candidate, though The Times reported that he also found his run scarring.
He was angry that fellow New Yorker, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, didnt endorse him.
And the newspaper said that Bloombergs relationship with President Joe Biden has been frosty.
He expressed concerns about Harris capabilities, though has reportedly warmed to her, The Times said, speaking positively about the VP to business executive Ken Chenault in Sag Harbor around the time of the August Democratic National Convention.