LinkedIn co-founder and billionaire megadonor Reid Hoffman has sparked controversy by calling for getting “money out of politics” while simultaneously pouring millions of dollars into Democratic campaigns and political operations.
“We should get money out of politics,” Hoffman wrote in a post on X. “And while others spend outrageous amounts to keep authoritarian clowns in power, those of us who believe in the ideals of America cannot yield.”
The statement comes as Federal Election Commission filings reveal Hoffman’s extensive financial involvement in Democratic political efforts, including a reported $10 million donation to Lone Star Rising PAC, a super PAC supporting Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, according to Bloomberg.
Millions in Political Contributions
The June contribution to the pro-Talarico super PAC represented the largest single donation received by the group during the reporting period. The super PAC has spent millions backing the Austin state representative while attacking his Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton.
That $10 million donation came on top of roughly $1.5 million Hoffman had already contributed to groups supporting Talarico’s campaign. The LinkedIn co-founder has also made a $250,000 campaign contribution to Iowa State Auditor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand.
Hoffman’s political spending extends well beyond individual races. He has funded a vast array of left-wing political activities, previously stating he would “spend as much as I possibly can and it takes” to defeat President Donald Trump.
Funding Legal Actions and Information Campaigns
According to Breitbart News Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow, Hoffman bankrolled E. Jean Carroll’s defamation lawsuit against President Trump. Marlow’s book, “Breaking the Law: Exposing the Weaponization of America’s Legal System Against Donald Trump,” identifies Hoffman as a major funder of what Marlow describes as the “lawfare apparatus” targeting Trump.
Hoffman has made his fortune through multiple tech ventures. Beyond co-founding LinkedIn in 2002, he helped launch PayPal and has profited from investments in Facebook, Airbnb, and his venture capital firm, Greylock Partners. His net worth is estimated in the billions.
The billionaire’s political spending also flows through organizations like the Good Information Foundation, which Hoffman backs alongside leftist billionaire George Soros. In October 2022, attorney and legal commentator Preston Moore revealed he had been offered “hundreds of dollars” by the organization to attack Trump and “Trump Republicans.”
Controversial Associations
Hoffman has admitted to visiting deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s private island. Documents released by the Department of Justice in January show that Hoffman discussed “visits to Epstein’s infamous private island, his New Mexico ranch, and his New York apartment,” according to the New York Post.
Moore, who did not accept the Good Information Foundation’s offer, told Breitbart News the group wanted him to “use fear to manipulate people into voting blue, or into voting not Trump.” He said the organization provided specific talking points, instructing him to say “Trump Republicans” rather than “Trump and his allies.”
“It became really clear that this was about putting out information… to impact midterms,” Moore said at the time.
The Irony of Campaign Finance Reform Advocacy
The apparent contradiction between Hoffman’s call to remove money from politics and his own massive political spending has raised questions about the billionaire’s stated commitment to campaign finance reform. While Hoffman frames his spending as necessary to counter what he views as threats to American democracy, critics point to the disconnect between his rhetoric and actions.
The shadowy nature of some political funding operations, including “dark money” nonprofits that don’t disclose donors, makes it difficult to track exactly how much influence wealthy individuals like Hoffman wield in American politics. However, publicly available FEC filings provide a window into the scale of contributions from major political donors.
As the 2026 election cycle heats up, Hoffman’s dual message — advocating for less money in politics while spending millions to influence electoral outcomes — exemplifies the complex role of megadonors in contemporary American political campaigns. His continued spending suggests that despite his stated desire to see money removed from politics, he believes such spending remains necessary under the current system.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/30/epstein-linked-megadonor-reid-hoffman-calls-to-get-money-out-of-politics/