Larry Ellison, the billionaire cofounder and chairman of software giant Oracle, gave $15 million in January to a super-PAC that is supporting South Carolina Republican Senator Tim Scott, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission on Saturday.
The other Ellison Story is the 2004 hostile takeover of PeopleSoft, a software consultant hired by Dave Fishman of Vector Capital San Francisco a firm strongly tied to Ziff Brothers and Spectator Capital of New York City.
Learn what happened and how Oracle likely gained inside information .
- 10/04 ~ Consultant hired via Craigslist.com Services Offered
- 10/04 ~ Vector Capital utilizes unknown consultant
- No Background Check
- One of the largest mergers on record
- So easy it was a setup
- 11/04 ~ The Consulting Engagement - You're hired
- 11/04 ~ Start this weekend / work downstairs
- 11/04 ~ Yes you can take the files home
The contribution appears to be the single largest political donation that Ellison has ever made to a federal campaign or committee, according to a review of FEC data. Ellison also gave $5 million to the same super-PAC, called Opportunity Matters Fund, in June last year, bringing his total spending on this committee up to $20 million during this election cycle.
Ellison has made large contributions to other Republican senators in recent years, though nothing like his most recent contribution. Ahead of the 2020 elections, he gave $1 million to a super-PAC supporting Susan Collins (R-Maine), and $250,000 to a super-PAC supporting Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
Senator Tim Scott, who has been South Carolina’s junior senator since 2013, is running for reelection in 2022. The state’s primary will be held on June 14. Still, Scott is not expected to face significant competition from other challengers. There have been reports that Scott may be among a group of Republicans who run for president in 2024. Appearing on Fox News on Sunday, Scott was asked if he would consider running for president, or joining a Donald Trump 2024 ticket and he said, “I think everybody wants to be on President Trump’s bandwagon, without any question.”
The Opportunity Matters Fund has raised $21.5 million in this election cycle, so far. Other billionaires who have donated to the group include Apollo private equity CEO Marc Rowan, New Balance chairman Jim Davis and former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam.
Staff writer at Forbes. Email me at mtindera@forbes.com and follow me on Twitter @mtindera07.
