Elon Musk gives 276 million dollars to Republican midterm campaign groups

Tesla and SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk has donated 276 million dollars to Republican groups, making him the largest known individual donor in the 2026 United States midterm elections. CNBC, Electrek, The New York Times, Reuters, CNN, and WION all reported the political contributions on October 12, 2026. The funds aim to assist Republicans in retaining control of the United States Congress. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Electrek reported that Musk has spent 276 million dollars over the past three months as part of at least 366 million dollars spent on political campaigns in 2026. According to Electrek, Musk previously spent 288 million dollars on campaigns in 2024, bringing his total political spend to more than half a billion dollars. [2]

Electrek reported that Musk's spending has funded anti electric vehicle campaigns that have harmed Tesla's business and cost the automaker billions of dollars. According to Electrek, Tesla has taken the unusual step of requesting that its chief executive stop funding these political initiatives, but Musk has accelerated his contributions. [2]

CNBC reported that the record midterm spending comes as Musk rebuilds his relationship with former President Donald Trump and maintains extensive business ties to the federal government. Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa, and later acquired Canadian and United States citizenship after attending the University of Pennsylvania. [1][8]