These Are The New Billionaire Backers Throwing Their Weight Behind Nikki Haley

Topline Dozens of Wall Street executives and billionaires are hosting a series of fundraisers for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley after the New Hampshire primaries, according to invitations that reveal several new big names throwing their weight behind her as she’s increasingly viewed as the most viable GOP alternative to former President Donald Trump.

Former UN ambassador and 2024 Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley speaks at a campaign town ... [+] hall event at Wentworth by the Sea Country Club in Rye, New Hampshire on January 2, 2024. (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images) Key Facts Billionaires Cliff Asness, Stanley Druckenmiller, Henry Kravis and Leonard Stern are among 21 hosts of a fundraiser for Haley on Jan.

30 in New York City, according to the invitation first made public by Puck News. The following day, billionaires Barry Sternlicht and Dan Och are set to co host a fundraiser and roundtable discussion with Haley in Miami. Haley’s support from Och, founder of Och Ziff Capital Management, and Kravis, who previously donated to both Sen.

Tim Scott’s (R S.C.) and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s campaigns, had not been previously reported—though Federal Election Commission records show Och donated to both Haley’s and President Joe Biden’s re election campaign last year. Silicon Valley investor Tim Draper, who previously made Forbes’ billionaire list, will host two fundraisers for Haley on Feb.

6 in California, priced at up to $16,600 per ticket, and on Feb. 7, Charles Swindells, former ambassador to New Zealand under former President George W. Bush, will co host a fundraiser for Haley in Orange County, priced at up to $10,000. The events are scheduled for dates after the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries, indicating Haley plans to stay in the race past the consequential initial two primaries, which are seen as bellwethers for the rest of the country and often prompt underperforming candidates to drop out.

The wealthy Haley backers listed on the invitation add to a growing list of influential Republican business executives—including Citadel founder Ken Griffin and Home Depot co founder Ken Langone —and some Democratic donors, who have publicly expressed support for Haley or contributed to her campaign in an effort to thwart Trump’s chances of securing the nomination.

Tangent Haley’s campaign said Wednesday it raised a total of $24 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, more than doubling her haul in the previous quarter. Billionaire LinkedIn co founder and Democratic donor Reid Hoffman gave $250,000 to her campaign recently, according to his spokesperson, while New Hampshire billionaire Frank Laukien formed a new super PAC designed to sway independents to support her and the Charles Koch backed super PAC Americans for Prosperity Action endorsed her campaign in November.

Key Background While Haley has seen a bump in polls in recent months as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis lost traction and other candidates have dropped out of the race, she still lags far behind former President Donald Trump, who is leading the GOP primary field with 62% average support in polls, according to FiveThirtyEight’s survey tracker .

Haley, who briefly eclipsed DeSantis’ polling average earlier this week, stands at 11% support, following DeSantis at 12%. Forbes Valuation We estimate Asness is worth $1.6 billion, Kravis is worth $10 billion, Stern is worth $8 billion, Och is worth $3.6 billion, Sternlicht is worth $3.8 billion and Druckenmiller is worth $6 billion.

What To Watch For The primaries kick off Jan. 15 with the Iowa caucuses, followed by the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 23..