Where the sun doesn’t usually shine. Not only is the Obama inauguration costing a record $170 million, a fairly big chunk of those costs are being paid by – wait for it – the recently bailed out Wall Street banker types.
The biggest group of donors were none other than the recently bailed-out Wall Street executives and employees.
“The finance sector is well represented, despite its recent troubles,” Ritsch said. “Those who worked in finance still managed to pull together nearly $7 million for the inauguration.”
The donors will get some of the best seats in the house for the inauguration, as well as admittance to some of the best balls and other events.
“I don’t think that they’re going to get a whole lot of face time with the new president himself,” Ritsch said, “but they are certainly establishing themselves from day one as his biggest financial supporters. And if there’s something they need or to tell him down the road, they will have an easier time doing that than everyone else.”
Another big group of donors: Hollywood types.
Besides Wall Street firms, a large chunk of the money came from employees at companies such as Microsoft, Google and DreamWorks Animation, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Microsoft CEO Steven Ballmer and his wife, Connie, each gave $50,000. So did Microsoft chairman and co-founder Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda.
DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and his wife, Marilyn, each gave $50,000. Filmmaker and DreamWorks co-founder Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate, both also gave $50,000. And DreamWorks employees gave a total of $275,000.
George Soros also put up large amounts of money. In fact, here’s a list of who is paying what and how much. Watch these names and businesses in the next few years and see who gets favorable treatment when new laws are passed.
By the way, you’ll love the names on the list that maxed out on donations and are listed as “Unemployed.” Over $1 million from that sector.
