The Data Project
Follow the Money.
Map the Power.
Exposing who funds American politics, how dark money flows, and the networks of influence that shape policy — powered by open data.
2024 Election Spending
$15.1B
All federal races
Outside Spending
$4.5B
Super PACs & independent
Dark Money
$1.9B
Untraceable sources
From Billionaires
19%
Of all outside spending
Featured
Power Networks
Interactive maps of America's most influential political networks
The Musk Empire
Center: Elon Musk
From $250M in donations to chairing DOGE — Musk's political machine spans government contracts, regulatory oversight, and direct White House access.
The Thiel Network
Center: Peter Thiel
From PayPal to the Vice Presidency — one billionaire's network controls government data infrastructure, immigration surveillance, and the second-highest office in the land.
The Koch Network
Center: Charles Koch
$548 million in political infrastructure — the most sophisticated private political operation in American history.
The Adelson Connection
Center: Miriam Adelson
From $120M in donations to shaping Middle East policy and Cabinet picks — the Adelson-Trump influence pipeline.
The Dark Money Web
Center: Leonard Leo
The $1.6 billion dark money empire that reshaped the Supreme Court and American law.
Silicon Valley's Political Split
Center: Silicon Valley
Tech's political money now flows both ways — crypto and AI regulation are splitting Silicon Valley between parties.
Investigations
Money Trails
Follow the money from donor to policy outcome
Musk → DOGE: $250M Bought a Government Department
$250.0M
Thiel → Vice Presidency: The PayPal Mafia Goes to Washington
$30.0M
Adelson → Israel Policy: $120M Bought a Foreign Policy
$120.0M
Koch → Energy Secretary: Dark Money Buys Climate Policy
$548.0M
Rankings
Billionaire Influence Index
The ultra-wealthy shaping American democracy
| # | Name | Political Spending | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elon Musk | $250.0M | |
| 2 | Charles Koch | $548.0M | |
| 3 | Leonard Leo | $1.6B | |
| 4 | Peter Thiel | $30.0M | |
| 5 | Miriam Adelson | $120.0M |
Visualizations
Follow the Money
Top 10 Billionaire Donors
By total political spending · colored by party
Industry Lobbying (2024)
Top 12 industries by lobbying expenditure
Industry
Lobbying Breakdown
Pharmaceuticals & Health Products
1,800 lobbyists
$387.0M
Finance & Banking
1,200 lobbyists
$220.0M
Insurance
800 lobbyists
$165.0M
Defense & Aerospace
950 lobbyists
$140.0M
Oil & Gas
700 lobbyists
$125.0M
Telecom & Internet
500 lobbyists
$95.0M
Real Estate
400 lobbyists
$85.0M
Agriculture & Food
300 lobbyists
$65.0M
Technology
350 lobbyists
$61.5M
Labor Unions
200 lobbyists
$55.0M
Automotive
200 lobbyists
$55.0M
Private Equity
100 lobbyists
$35.0M
By The Numbers
The Scale of Influence
Political Action Committees
8,247
Active in 2024
Registered Lobbyists
12,547
In Washington D.C.
Revolving Door
3,892
Gov ↔ lobbying transitions
Foreign Agents
423
Under FARA registration
Latest
Investigations
In-depth reporting on political money and power
The Revolving Door: 500+ Officials Now Lobby for Their Former Bosses
How 80% of retiring generals and admirals go to work for defense contractors, creating a $1.06 trillion feedback loop between the Pentagon and the companies it awards contracts to.
Trump's Pay-to-Play: From Donor to Ambassador
Inside the $400 million White House ballroom where 37 megadonors secured ambassadorships, regulatory favors, and direct policy influence in exchange for their contributions.
Silicon Valley's Political Split: Tech Money Goes Both Ways
Reid Hoffman versus Marc Andreessen, David Sacks, Peter Thiel, and Elon Musk — how Silicon Valley's political civil war poured billions into both parties and reshaped American politics.
Private Equity's Quiet Power: Schwarzman, KKR, and Carried Interest
How the $13 trillion private equity industry spends $400 million annually on lobbying and campaign contributions to protect the carried interest loophole — saving billionaire fund managers billions in taxes.
The $400 Million Ballroom: 37 Donors and What They Got
A donor-by-donor investigation of the 37 individuals and corporations who each gave $1 million or more to Trump's record-shattering inaugural fund — and the government favors that followed.
Oil Money in the White House: From Koch Donors to Energy Secretary
How Chris Wright — a Koch network donor and fracking CEO — became Energy Secretary, and how fossil fuel money reshaped American energy policy from the inside.
Explore
Explore by Category
Politicians
Track funding sources, voting records, and financial ties of elected officials.
Donors
Mega-donors and billionaires pouring money into American politics.
PACs
Super PACs, dark money groups, and political action committees.
Industries
Which industries spend the most on lobbying and political donations.
Dark Money
Untraceable political spending from 501(c)(4) nonprofits and shell groups.
Investigations
In-depth reporting on corruption, conflicts of interest, and quid pro quo.
Democracy demands transparency.
PowerMap makes political finance data accessible so citizens can hold power accountable.