Donor Who Gave $130 Million to Pay Troops Is Reclusive Heir to Mellon Fortune [View all]

Source: New York Times

Oct. 25, 2025


Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire and a major financial backer of President Trump, is the anonymous private donor who gave $130 million to the U.S. government to help pay troops during the shutdown, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Mr. Trump announced the donation on Thursday night, but he declined to name the person who provided the funds, only calling him a “patriot” and a friend. But the two people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the donation was private, identified him as Mr. Mellon.

Shortly after departing Washington on Friday, Mr. Trump again declined to identify Mr. Mellon while talking to reporters aboard Air Force One. He only said the individual was “a great American citizen” and a “substantial man.”

“He doesn’t want publicity,” Mr. Trump said as he headed to Malaysia. “He prefer that his name not be mentioned which is pretty unusual in the world I come from, and in the world of politics, you want your name mentioned.” The White House declined to comment. Multiple attempts to reach Mr. Mellon and representatives for him were unsuccessful.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/us/politics/timothy-mellon-donation-troops.html