Silicon Valley billionaires and executives are pouring millions into California politics as the governor’s race and a proposed billionaire tax draw heavy financing. Sergey Brin has donated to both Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Matt Mahan, while former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has funded committees opposing the tax. Committees against the measure have received multiple seven‑ and eight‑figure donations, and organizers continue gathering signatures for a possible November ballot.
Brin, Schmidt and Other Tech Billionaires Pour Millions into California Governor Race and Anti-Tax Campaigns
Matt Mahan has emerged a favorite of Silicon Valley among a crowded field of Democratic contenders for California’s governor’s seat.Photograph: Christopher Victorio/Shutterstock(Photograph: Christopher Victorio/Shutterstock)
Tech billionaires and senior executives from Silicon Valley are dramatically increasing their financial involvement in California politics as the governor’s race heats up and a proposed billionaire wealth tax gains traction. Newly released state campaign finance filings show major donations from current and former leaders at Google, DoorDash, Reddit, LinkedIn, Facebook and other tech firms.
Major Donations and Who They Back
Google co‑founder Sergey Brin has donated to candidates on both sides of the aisle in the California governor’s contest. Recent filings show a $39,200 contribution to Republican Steve Hilton and the maximum allowable individual donation of $78,400 to Democrat Matt Mahan. Brin also gave $1 million to an independent committee supporting Mahan, Deliver For California.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has emerged as a significant funder in the anti‑tax effort, giving $1.04 million to the California Business Roundtable, according to filings. Schmidt also donated $2 million to Building A Better California, another committee opposing the proposed billionaire tax.
Other Notable Donors
- Brin reportedly contributed $20 million in January to Building A Better California and recently relocated to a $42 million property on the northeastern shore of Lake Tahoe in Nevada.
- Donors to Building A Better California include DoorDash CEO Tony Xu ($2 million), Ripple executive Chris Larsen ($2 million), and Stripe CEO Patrick Collison ($2 million).
- Contributors to the California Business Roundtable include Palantir co‑founder Peter Thiel ($3 million), Ring founder James Siminoff ($100,000), and Chris Larsen ($750,000).
- Matt Mahan has attracted Silicon Valley support, receiving donations such as $39,200 from DoorDash CEO Tony Xu and LinkedIn co‑founder Reid Hoffman, and the $78,400 maximum from Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, Cruise co‑founder Kyle Vogt, Sean Parker, and Zynga founder Mark Pincus.
Political Context
The union‑backed Billionaire Tax Act—intended to raise revenue for education, food assistance and health programs—remains in the signature‑gathering phase ahead of a potential November ballot appearance. Both leading candidates mentioned in filings, Mahan and Hilton, have publicly opposed the measure. Campaign organizers say they are "working around the clock" to collect the required signatures.
Brin, who has generally kept a low public profile, has become more politically visible in 2026. He attended a White House dinner with President Donald Trump last year, and his former wife is Nicole Shanahan, a 2024 vice‑presidential running mate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The filings also show cross‑cutting donations: some donors who supported Mahan have also funded companies or initiatives that engaged with the Trump administration, and some individuals have given to both Mahan and Hilton.
Requests for comment were not immediately returned by Brin or Schmidt.
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