Tech billionaires who have stepped into politics

The influence of Silicon Valley no longer ends with technology as a growing number of tech billionaires are shaping politics directly, whether by holding office, funding campaigns, or using philanthropy to steer public policy.

Here’s a closer look at five of the most prominent tech titans bridging tech and politics.

Michael Bloomberg

The founder of Bloomberg L.P. is one of the most successful tech billionaires to hold office.

Bloomberg served three terms as New York City’s mayor between 2002 and 2013, first as a Republican and later as an Independent.

Moreover, he mounted a presidential run in 2020 as a Democrat, eventually endorsing Joe Biden. 

Beyond office, Bloomberg has poured hundreds of millions into causes like climate change and gun control, with his philanthropy continuing to shape Democratic priorities.

Elon Musk

Musk, the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and owner of X (formerly Twitter), emerged as a political heavyweight in 2024, becoming the largest individual donor of the election.

He gave vast sums to support Donald Trump’s campaign and was later tapped to co-lead a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

By mid-2025, however, Musk stepped back from both the role and large-scale political spending, citing growing backlash.

Peter Thiel

PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel was one of Trump’s earliest Silicon Valley backers, donating $1.25 million in 2016.

He later funded candidates aligned with Trump’s brand of conservatism. Yet by 2024, Thiel expressed disillusionment, telling The Atlantic he would sit out that year’s elections entirely.

Mark Zuckerberg

The Meta CEO entered politics indirectly in 2020, when he and his wife, Priscilla Chan, donated $400 million to local election offices.

While framed as support for election infrastructure, critics accused him of tipping the scales. The backlash led Zuckerberg to vow neutrality in future elections, even as Meta continues to be scrutinised for its political influence.

Bill Gates

Unlike Musk or Thiel, Gates shapes policy through philanthropy. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has driven global health and climate agendas for decades.

Though rarely partisan, reports in 2024 suggested he privately gave $50 million to a group backing Kamala Harris’s campaign.