Timothy Mellon, a reclusive heir to the Mellon fortune, made a remarkable financial impact in the 2024 election cycle by contributing $125 million to the super PAC Make America Great Again, Inc., in support of Donald Trump, according to Federal Election Commission records. Mellon, 82, channeled additional funds toward other Republican congressional candidates and even backed Robert F. Kennedy Jr., bringing his total contributions to an impressive $165 million, per campaign finance tracking by Open Secrets.

Although Tesla CEO Elon Musk also made significant contributions to Trump’s re-election campaign—giving at least $119 million to a PAC he established to support the former president—Mellon’s contributions surpassed Musk’s total of $132 million when accounting for other Republican candidates.

Unlike Musk, who is frequently in the public eye, Mellon maintains a notably private lifestyle. A grandson of Gilded Age tycoon Andrew Mellon, he rarely engages with the media or seeks out political connections. Mellon has voiced strong views on federal entitlement programs, once calling them “slavery redux.” Despite his substantial influence in political financing, Mellon is largely unknown to the politicians and organizations he supports. In 2020, some Republican staffers reportedly had to look him up online when he reached out with a substantial donation offer, highlighting his low profile even within the political sphere.

In a rare 2020 interview with Bloomberg, Mellon expressed satisfaction with Trump’s efforts, particularly in addressing trade imbalances and America’s relationship with China. Mellon also financially supported Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential bid before Kennedy ended his campaign, donating $25 million to the American Values 2024 PAC.