Sheldon Adelson, Casino Mogul, May Give Up To $100 Million To Newt Gingrich

Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson said he would give up to $100 million to Newt Gingrich or another GOP candidate, according to a rare interview in Forbes magazine published Tuesday.

"It's unfair that I've been treated unfair -- but it doesn't stop me. I might give $10 million or $100 million to Gingrich," he said.

The billionaire and his family have already given $11 million to a Gingrich-aligned super PAC, Winning our Future, and according to CBS News, are expected to make another $10 million donation.

The amount is small relative to Adelson's wealth -- The Huffington Post calculated that he made $3.3 million an hour assuming a 40-hour work week, making $7 billion in total. He has a net worth of about $25 billion.

Winning Our Future is overwhelmingly supported by Adelson and his wife, and his donations have helped keep Gingrich's campaign alive.

Adelson told Forbes that he was "against very wealthy people attempting to or influencing our elections." He added, "but as long as it's doable I'm going to do it" and that he's proud and doesn't want to hide his name.

Adelson also said that he likes Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum but wouldn't back Ron Paul.

Billionaires Peter Thiel, the founder of PayPal, and Foster Friess, have also heavily contributed to super PACs aligned with Ron Paul and Rick Santorum, respectively. Restore Our Future, a pro-Romney super PAC, has been largely supported by two dozen donors, according to the AP.

Inside the Gingrich campaign:

Comments

[hwteenstars]

05:58 PM on 02/24/2012

I thank god every day that there are casino billionaires like Sheldon Adelson who have the moral fiber to selflessly back a man of equally unqualified moral fiber, Newt Gingrich. I think it would behoove every good, solid, conservative, Christian, Catholic or even a Morman to go out and patronize Mr. Adelson's fine establishments. It is every minister's, priests and elders duty to encourage their flocks to go out and gamble in Mr. Adelson's establishments in lieu of contributing to the collection plate or tithe. Perhaps, since so much of the money is going to Mr. Gingrich's campaign it could conceivably in a circuitious fashion be considered a tax donation to Newt's campaign and be a write off against taxes if Newt should win. Further, surely out of the millions that could be donated to Mr. Gingrich through the slot machines there is a potential payout of literally hundreds of dollars to those donors who are lucky enough to win. Never in American history have so few given so much more than the many, especially in these times of economic collapse where only the few have all the money. My admiration goes to Mr. Adelson and Mr. Gingrich, I would not gamble on any other candidate.

[jeanwny]

06:21 PM on 02/24/2012

Fabulous sarcasm!

[expat liberal]

09:14 AM on 02/24/2012

I think Newt is sharing something to get that kind of loot. Look at his wife and use your imagination.

[Ralph Taylor]

06:31 PM on 02/23/2012

Guy must have money to flush down the toilet because that is exactly what he is doing. Makes you feel sorry for the 1% doesn't it.

[sallybutt45]

02:45 AM on 02/23/2012

Adelson's agenda is very simple........and very dangerous. To bomb Iran! He and the same Neo-Cons are still out there are pushing hard for yet another war in the ME. I cannot believe so many people are harkening to the call. They are not thinking past the initial strike, just as before. Voices of reason need to prevail here. People should not allow the Islamophobia that this man has spent millions to spread, to blind them to the horrors that might be unleasfhed. I am willing to bet that he will foot the bill for anyone who takes the lead----it matters little to him, as long as they will take his dangerous Pro-Israel-no-matter-what stance. His interests lie with Israel over the interests of this country.

[Skiwee]

04:47 PM on 02/22/2012

That's an tax right off, isn't it?

[Skiwee]

04:45 PM on 02/22/2012

He's a right_idiot.

[kbeth]

09:18 AM on 02/22/2012

Always good to pry some money loose from the greedy, grasping hands of the super rich, it needs to be back in circulation and it won't matter, Obama will still win.

[nothingchanges]

06:05 AM on 02/22/2012

38% of all the money donated to Super Pacs in this election cycle came from just 15 people

http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/10/news/economy/super_pac_billionaires/index.htm

Money MAY not be able to buy happiness, but it can buy a lot of things that can make you happy.

That shouldn't include the Congress of the United States of America

IT shouldn't.........................................

"Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely"

We have the worst government dirty money can buy................and it shows.

Campaign finance reform, if not now..........when?

[sallybutt45]

02:48 AM on 02/23/2012

Hear! Hear! NothingChange, well said!

[expat liberal]

09:22 AM on 02/24/2012

When all liberals, conservatives and independents elect people who is willing to vote on a constitutional amendment to get rid of the money in politics. Not just federal. State and local reps are also needed to clean up this mess.

Don't give me a tax cut. I will gladly pay to finance your election campaign.

[Jason Fairchild]

05:54 AM on 02/22/2012

Hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rich guy why dont you take that money and bail out 100 million home owners that are about to loose thier homes, I know, not possible, it would be helping someone out less forunate than yourself.

[jeanwny]

06:33 PM on 02/24/2012

Jason you need to accept that money "trickles down" and the people who are out of their hard earned homes may possibly be in them again someday before they die.That trickle down has been the mantra for more than 10 years, keep the faith and surely it will happen sooner or later. Therefore no reason to put any pressure on the super rich!

[knute9]

05:16 AM on 02/22/2012

Ron Paul is the one candidate who would really shake things up in Washington. That's why the status quo political establishment rallies against him.

[haychcago]

04:59 AM on 02/22/2012

He's just lying through his teeth. He's not coming up with that money. WATCH!!! He just wants everyone to think he is. He's such a BIG SPENDER.... NOT.... He has to stay in the limelight somehow... He's a gambler, so I BET it NEVER happens... Yea, maybe another million or ten, that's pocket change to him... ALL ON A BIG L-O-S-E-R

[Elijah Greenleaf]

04:58 AM on 02/22/2012

Now we have a government of the billionaires, by the billionaires, and for the billionaires.

[maureenaw]

04:19 AM on 02/22/2012

This guy is acting like one of the mob guys who built Las Vegas. Back then they could buy the politicians. OK, they still can these days, but it's more publisized now and the average citizen would be so outraged Newt probably wouldn't even be elected. Now, you've just blow $100 million, so my suggestion would be to help me out financially until I can find a job because I don't want to lose my house!

[Lassitofi]

03:51 AM on 02/22/2012

if a billionaire has $100 million to blow on a republican candidate, he can afford higher tax rates

[gted1954]

04:11 AM on 02/22/2012

Lassitofi, Thank You, I coulden't have said it better myself. It's as if you read my mind. F&F.

[fivehole84]

05:01 AM on 02/22/2012

Yeah, that billionaire also pays 35 on income, 15 on investments, he employs thousands of people....
Adelson donated over $25 million to the The Adelson Educational Campus in Las Vegas to build a high school. In 2006 Adelson contributed $25 million to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority.

Since 2007, the Adelson Family Foundation has made contributions totalling $100 million to Birthright Israel, which finances Jewish youth trips to Israel.

Adelson also has funded the Boston based Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation. AMRF is a private foundation. This foundation initiated the Adelson Program in Neural Repair and Rehabilitation (APNRR) with $7.5 million donated to collaborating researchers at 10 universities.

The man is a winner, so of course he should pay more taxes while the losers not only pay no taxes, but get money back. Grrrrr those evil successful guys

[gted1954]

05:27 AM on 02/22/2012

Ok, so he's done a lot of good. $25 million here, $25 million there. But donating $100 million to a political candidate? That is complete lunacy. I know it's his money and he can do what he wants with it, but $100 million can help many thousands instead of one.

[rickie007]

03:39 AM on 02/22/2012

100 million dollars could help many americans . this man throwing it away on someone who will not win and is a nasty nasty lying mean excuse of a human being .