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US election: Hollywood's biggest donors and how much they are spending

Here are the top Hollywood backers in the election, the campaigns they're supporting, and how much they've given

Anjelica Oswald
Sunday 06 March 2016 08:22 EST
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Can you guess who Kanye West is backing?
Can you guess who Kanye West is backing? (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty)

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From more than a million dollars in donations to a relatively meager few thousand, Hollywood A-listers are putting money forward to support their favorite presidential hopefuls in the 2016 election.

Hillary Clinton has raised the most money during the campaign, and this is especially true when it comes to power players in the entertainment world. Steven Spielberg and studio head Jeffrey Katzenberg have donated more than a million to support her run. But, as The New York Times points out, the upper echelon of donors in elections tends to include more people from finance and energy.

Business Insider has compiled reporting on contributions and searched the Federal Election Commission database to highlight the biggest donors from Hollywood in the current race. While not a comprehensive list — there are many smaller amounts coming from individuals in entertainment — it includes the largest known sums and focuses only on donations of $2,500 or more. The maximum an individual can contribute to a campaign in an election cycle is $2,700, but Business Insider also looked at larger contributions to super PACs.

Here are the top Hollywood backers in the election, the campaigns they're supporting, and how much they've given:


Steven Spielberg — $1,002,700 to Hillary Clinton

Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg (Getty)

The director and cofounder of DreamWorks donated 1 million to Priorities USA Action, a super PAC that supports Clinton, and $2,700 to Clinton herself.


Jeffrey Katzenberg — $1,002,700 to Hillary Clinton

Katzenberg donated 1 million to Priorities USA Action and $2,700 to Clinton herself.
Katzenberg donated 1 million to Priorities USA Action and $2,700 to Clinton herself. (Olycom SPA/REX Shutterstock)

The CEO of DreamWorks Animation donated 1 million to Priorities USA Action and $2,700 to Clinton herself.


JJ Abrams — $502,700 to Hillary Clinton

JJ Abrams backs Hillary Clinton for president.
JJ Abrams backs Hillary Clinton for president. (Christopher Jue/Getty)

The director donated $500,000 to Priorities USA Action and $2,700 to Clinton herself.


Kelsey Grammer — $5,000 to Ben Carson and $5,000 to Rand Paul

Kelsey Grammer is his role as corrupt Chicago Mayor Tom Kane in Boss
Kelsey Grammer is his role as corrupt Chicago Mayor Tom Kane in Boss

Kelsey Grammer — $5,000 to Ben Carson and $5,000 to Rand Paul


Beyoncé — $2,700 to Hillary Clinton

Beyonce: Rock in Rio Festival on September 2013
Beyonce: Rock in Rio Festival on September 2013 (Getty)

Leonardo DiCaprio — $2,700 to Hillary Clinton

Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio

Kanye West — $2,700 to Hillary Clinton

Kanye West supports Hillary Clinton's bid for the White House.
Kanye West supports Hillary Clinton's bid for the White House.

Danny DeVito — $2,700 to Martin O'Malley and $2,700 to Bernie Sanders

US actor Danny DeVito
US actor Danny DeVito (Getty)

Tom Hanks — $2,700 to Hillary Clinton

Tom Hanks.
Tom Hanks. (Getty Images)

Ben Affleck — $2,700 to Hillary Clinton

Ben Affleck.
Ben Affleck. (Getty Images)

Bonnie Raitt (singer) — $2,700 to Bernie Sanders

Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt (David Buchan/Variety/REX Shutterstock)

Katy Perry — $2,700 to Hillary Clinton

Katy Perry.
Katy Perry. (Getty Images)

Chuck Lorre (“Two and a Half Men” creator) — $2,700 to Hillary Clinton

Chuck Lorre
Chuck Lorre (Everett Collection/REX Shutterstock)

Seth MacFarlane — $2,700 to Bernie Sanders

Actor Seth MacFarlane.
Actor Seth MacFarlane. (AP)

Kate Hudson — $2,700 to Hillary Clinton

Golden smile: Kate Hudson.
Golden smile: Kate Hudson. (Rex Features)

Jerry Bruckheimer (producer) — $2,700 to Jeb Bush

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer. (Getty Images)

Reese Witherspoon — $2,700 to Hillary Clinton

Reese Witherspoon.
Reese Witherspoon. (Getty Images)

Ellen DeGeneres — $2,700 to Hillary Clinton


Television host Ellen DeGeneres.

 Television host Ellen DeGeneres.

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Read the original article on Business Insider UK. © 2015. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.

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