The mystery surrounding the generous billionaire who contributed $130 million to cover US military salaries during the government shutdown has been resolved. The benefactor is none other than Timothy Mellon, heir to an oil fortune.
Former President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday that this significant donation was made by a ‘friend’ as a patriotic gesture towards the military and the country.
“He called us recently and said, ‘I’d like to make up for any shortfall due to the Democrat shutdown. I want to contribute personally because I have a deep love for the military and for our nation,'” Trump shared.
Describing the donor as ‘a great American citizen’ and ‘a substantial man,’ Trump noted that the individual wished to remain anonymous, which he found remarkable given that most people in politics seek recognition.
“He prefers to keep his name out of the spotlight, which is quite rare in my experience, especially in the political realm where people usually desire acknowledgment,” Trump remarked.
Sean Parnell, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, later confirmed that the Department of Defense had indeed received this generous contribution on Thursday, ensuring that service members’ salaries would be paid.
Mystery grew over who made the anonymous donation until the New York Times revealed the billionaire’s identity on Saturday, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Mellon, 83, has stayed out of the spotlight but is a member of one of America’s wealthiest families.
Timothy Mellon, a member of one of America’s richest families, has been revealed as the mystery tycoon who donated $130 million to the US government for military salaries
Mellon (pictured here in 1981) is a member of a long line of powerful Americans and recently became a major political donor to Trump
Mellon was revealed by the New York Times as the mystery donor who donated funds to pay the military during the government shutdown
Forbes lists the Mellons’ family fortune at $14.1 billion and named them one of the country’s richest dynasties in February.
The outlet estimated that Mellon’s individual net worth was around $1 billion which he denied, telling the publication that he ‘never have been, never will be,’ a billionaire.
Mellon is the descendant of Thomas Mellon, an Irish immigrant who came to America in 1818 and became a real estate and banking tycoon.
His grandfather, Andrew, became a venture capitalist in the 20th century and was an early investor in companies that became Alcoa and Gulf Oil.
Mellon has typically steered clear of political donations but has been an avid supporter of Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
His recent donation to the military has raised questions about whether it can be distributed as he intended.
Congress typically has to approve how the budget is allocated, including funds for military service members.
Donations exceeding $10,000 must undergo an ethics review, according to Defense Department regulations.
Mellon is a member of one of the country’s wealthiest families, with Forbes estimating their net worth at $14.1 billion (Pictured: A Pan Am Railway train, bought by Guilford Transportation)
Mellon’s grandfather is Andrew Mellon, who served as the Secretary of the Treasury and was an early investor in oil companies
The donation also potentially violates the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from using funds in advance or in excess and accepting voluntary services.
The Pentagon has argued that the government can accept the money under the general gift acceptance authority.
The Department of Defense’s standards of conduct generally state that any monetary gift shouldn’t be accepted from an outside source.
However, the standards do note that there are many exceptions to the gift standard.
The New York Times estimated that if the money were used to cover the military’s salaries, each service member would receive only about $100.
Mellon has kept a low political profile but has become a top donor to Trump, pouring about $165 million into his last presidential campaign, according to the nonprofit research group Open Secrets.
He significantly increased his political contribution spending in 2024, after donating only $41.7 million to campaigns in 2022.
Mellon has stayed quiet on his political beliefs, but has supported Trump and RFK Jr’s campaigns by donating millions
Thomas Mellon (pictured) accumulated a mass fortune as a venture capitalist and early investor in oil companies
Andrew Mellon (pictured) inherited his father’s fortune before becoming the Secretary of Treasury
Mellon donated $60.1 million in 2020, $10.1 million in 2018, and less than $1 million in prior years.
His recent political donations include a $50 million cash infusion to the super PAC (political action committee) Make America Great Again Inc.
Mellon is also a supporter of RFK Jr and donated millions to his presidential campaign and his group, Children’s Health Defense.
However, in a rare interview with Bloomberg in 2020, Mellon revealed that he gave a small donation to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 2018 campaign.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment on the New York Times’ reporting.
