The Adelson Family Foundation has emerged as one of the leading donors to President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom renovation project, committing $25 million, according to a recent report. This contribution matches those from major technology firms Nvidia and Apple, as well as billionaire Charlie Ergen, founder of Dish Network. Collectively, these top donors account for a significant portion of the $333 million raised for the project to date.
Founded in 2007, the Adelson Family Foundation primarily focuses on supporting Israel and Jewish causes. The organization traces its funding to the late Sheldon Adelson’s casino and resort empire. Adelson, born in Boston, served as chief executive of Las Vegas Sands before his death in 2021. He and his wife, Miriam Adelson, were noted for their extensive financial support of Republican candidates and pro-Israel initiatives through their family foundation.
The funds for the White House ballroom project are routed through a nonprofit entity that channels the donations into a government account directly overseen by Trump. The foundation has a substantial record of financial support for Trump’s political endeavors, having donated hundreds of millions through the super PAC Preserve America. Sheldon Adelson was the largest individual donor to Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign with a $25 million contribution and also gave $5 million to the committee responsible for Trump’s 2017 inauguration, making it the largest individual donation for that event.
Miriam Adelson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump in 2018 and has continued to contribute significantly to Republican and pro-Israel causes following her husband’s passing. The family’s net worth is estimated at $31.2 billion, according to Forbes. Their holdings include a majority stake in the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and ownership of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, acquired in 2015. Miriam Adelson also serves as publisher of Israel’s largest newspaper, Israel Hayom.
Recent tax filings for the Adelson Family Foundation indicate that it donated $66.7 million in 2024. Among its largest grants are contributions to American Friends of Ariel University, a nonprofit that supports a publicly funded Israeli college, and the Birthright Israel Foundation. A representative of the foundation was not immediately available for comment.