6 Things to Know About Robert MercerThe reclusive billionaire who helped fund Trump's campaign is notoriously private. Here's what we know about him.
By Julianne Pepitone Jul 31, 2017
Robert Mercer is a hedge-fund tycoon, political influencer, computer genius, and media mogul. The laconic billionaire has made headlines because he’s credited with funding Trump’s rise to power—but even as he grabs media attention, details about his own politics and personality remain murky.
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1 He’s influential in politics, topping even the top-donors lists.
In 2015, The Washington Post named Mercer one of the "10 most influential billionaires in politics." From 2006 to 2016 he donated nearly $35 million to federal campaigns, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. He’s also the number three Republican/conservative megadonor on the group’s list of disclosed donors.
He made headlines as the largest benefactor of the "Make America Number 1" super-PAC, at $15.5 million donated. The PAC employed both Stephen Bannon and Kellyanne Conway, who later became part of both Trump’s campaign and administration.
2 But he was originally a Ted Cruz man.
Make America Number 1 started as Keep the Promise, a PAC built to support Republican candidate Ted Cruz. But the Mercer family reportedly decided to switch to Team Trump after the now-president unveiled his hardline stance on immigration, according to the Huffington Post.
But Mercer’s ultimate goals and political values are a bit of a mystery; he’s never spoken publicly about his political proclivities. "He’s tight-lipped even with his friends," Bloomberg reported. "That’s made him an object of intense speculation. Some allies privately say they think he’s pro-life and opposed to gay marriage, and others say the opposite."
3 Mercer is a computer-science whiz.
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http://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/g10011926/robert-mercer-facts/
