A reclusive billionaire and heir to one of America’s richest families, Timothy Mellon has been identified as the anonymous donor who gave $130 million to the US government to help pay military salaries amid the ongoing federal shutdown. For days, Trump has been heaping praise on his mystery friend, calling him a “patriot” and a “great American.” Though he declined to reveal the name, two people familiar with the matter confirmed that the donor was Mr. Mellon, according to The New York Times.
Billionaire Timothy Mellon Identified as $130M donor
Speaking aboard Air Force One on his way to Malaysia, Trump said the donor wished to remain out of the spotlight. “He doesn’t want publicity,” Trump told reporters. “He prefers that his name not be mentioned, which is pretty unusual in politics.” The White House has not commented on the donation. The Pentagon confirmed it had accepted the money under its “general gift acceptance authority.”
At present, more than 1.3 million active-duty troops are serving without regular pay. The $130 million donation would cover about $100 per service member, based on Congressional Budget Office estimates. “The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits,” Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, said in a statement.
Who is Timothy Mellon?
83 years old, Timothy Mellon is the grandson of Andrew W. Mellon, the legendary banker and US Treasury Secretary who served from 1921 to 1932. According to Forbes, the Mellon family has an estimated net worth of $14 billion. They have long been associated with American finance, art, and philanthropy.
Despite being a billionaire himself, Timothy lives mostly in Wyoming, far from the public eye. He rarely gives interviews and avoids publicity. A source close to Mellon told Vanity Fair that the businessman prefers to keep his actual net worth under wraps, which is estimated to be around $4.2 billion.
Mellon has been one of Donald Trump’s biggest supporters both politically and financially. In 2024, shortly after Trump’s fraud conviction in New York, Mellon donated $50 million to the pro-Trump super PAC Make America Great Again. Over the years, he has invested tens of millions into Trump’s campaign efforts and Republican causes.
Interestingly, Mellon also supported Robert F. Kennedy Jr.who at the time was running against Trump. Mellon reportedly contributed millions to his presidential campaign and to his organisation, Children’s Health Defence.
In his 2015 self-published autobiography, Mellon described himself as a former liberal who moved from Connecticut to Wyoming for lower taxes and privacy. The book also drew some backlash for comments about race and social welfare programs.
Mellon’s business includes Pan Am Systems, a group of companies involved in railroads, aviation, and marketing. He has written about his efforts to revive the historic Pan Am brand in a 2024 book published by Skyhorse Publishing, the same firm that released a memoir by First Lady Melania Trump.
The Mellon empire began with Thomas Mellon, who was an Irish immigrant who arrived in Pennsylvania in the 1800s. He became a judge and banker. His son, Andrew Mellon, made major investments in companies like Alcoa and Gulf Oil, and later helped found Carnegie Mellon University.