Casino Billionaires, NFL Owners Fueled Trump's Record Inaugural Fundraising

Contribution of $5 million from Adelson sets modern-era record
Energy and financial-services interests kicked in millions

Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson speaks on Oct. 1, 2014, in Las Vegas.
Photographer: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

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By Bill Allison and John McCormick

April 19, 2017 at 1:37 PM UTC

Updated on

April 19, 2017 at 8:17 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Contributions from billionaires and corporations pushed President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee to a new fundraising benchmark of $106.7 million, roughly twice the previous record set by former President Barack Obama’s first inauguration.

Among the biggest donors for the celebration of Trump’s taking office in Washington were casino-owner billionaires Sheldon Adelson and Steve Wynn, a filing made public Wednesday by the Federal Election Commission shows. Adelson gave $5 million, while Wynn donated $729,217 in entertainment through his Wynn Resorts Ltd.