Money and Politics: The Influence of Billionaires in the 2024 U.S. Election Cycle

The 2024 US elections have been the most contested and closest elections not only in the history of the state but of the world as well. There are multiple reasons behind the contested nature of the election with a plethora of scholarly articles and analysis written, making the case for such a phenomenon. However, what has come as a surprise is the active role of billionaires and oligarchs in not only funding the GOPs (Grand Old Party) but also taking an active part in the whole campaigning phase. This has given US elections a new turn where apart from funding and fundraising for the GOPs, these billionaires have directly come to the center stage of the political campaigning. In this context, the paper will analyze the role these super-rich oligarchs have played in the broader elections and shaping the outcome of the results in favor of the candidate they support. This will help in understanding the relationship between the monetary resources and the US election results of 2024 against a backdrop of a particularly divided and polarized electorate. The paper will explore the dangerous nexus between money and politics by looking at the influence these super-rich people exert over democracy and over the future decisions of the President of the US.