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President Donald Trump’s apparent attempts to turn the White House into a vision of his palace at Mar-a-Lago have drawn significant support from some of the lords of his South Florida court.
Over a summer spent juggling national issues like the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, masked men ripping apart immigrant families, and an ongoing trade war putting a squeeze on middle and lower-income families, Trump had the bright idea to lift American spirits with the announcement of a $250 million ballroom most will never see from the inside. And several members of South Florida’s upper crust were seemingly eager to open their coffers for the historic bulldozing, according to a list of donors reported by NBC News.
Of the 37 donors listed, which include big-name corporations like Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Meta, it appears that 12 have direct connections to South Florida. The specific contribution amounts from each donor are not publicly known.
South Florida Companies and Power Players Bankrolling Trump’s Ballroom:
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Amazon
While the online retailer wasn’t founded and isn’t based in South Florida, its eccentric owner, Jeff Bezos, attended high school here and recently relocated his primary residence to Miami to be closer to his parents.
Hard Rock International
Owned by the Seminole Tribe and based in Davie, Hard Rock International may seem like an unusual inclusion on a list that includes tech giants like Google and global security companies like Lockheed Martin. But Chairman Jim Allen has been a member of Trump’s band of concurring men, previously serving as vice president of operations for the Trump Organization.
Benjamin Leon Jr.
The Cuban-American businessman, whom Trump named as the next ambassador to Spain, founded Leon Medical Centers based in Doral. Leon Medical Centers operates nine locations across Miami-Dade County.
Betty Wold Johnson Foundation
The relatively new foundation is a private family endeavor that supports initiatives in health care, education, and the arts, according to the Palm Beach Daily News. Based in West Palm Beach, the nonprofit is named after the mother of New York Jets owners Christopher and Woody Johnson.
J. Pepe and Emilia Fanjul
The Palm Beach couple owns Fanjul Corp, a conglomerate of sugar and real estate companies, and Florida Crystals, a cane sugar refining company. Emilia also founded Glades Academy, a charter school in Palm Beach County.
Kelly Loeffler
Nominated by Trump in 2024, Loeffler serves as the U.S. Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Until February, she served on the board of West Palm Beach-based PSQ Holdings, where Donald Trump Jr. is director.
Konstantin Sokolov
The Chicago-based investor and founder of IJS Investments has a home in Miami, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Stefan E. Brodie
Brodie is the former owner of Bro-Tech, a biotech manufacturing company. In 2002, a federal court convicted him of conspiring to violate the Trading With the Enemy Act for selling water purification resins to Cuba, according to Florida Politics. Brodie lives on Fisher Island with his wife Elizabeth W. Brodie, who, according to Florida Bulldog, paid $500,000 to dine with Trump.
Stephen A. Schwarzman
Chairman, CEO, and co-founder of the leading global investment firm Blackstone, Schwarzman’s name is likely not a surprise on the list, considering he has repeatedly donated to Trump’s campaigns. Schwarzman owns properties worldwide, including a home in Palm Beach and a Rhode Island mansion called Miramar. He’s one of a few on the list with property ties to South Florida.
The Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Foundation
On the foundation’s website, the Palm Beach couple says they support social justice initiatives, cancer research, and helping free the wrongfully convicted. They can now add donating to a convicted felon’s $250 million home renovation.
The Lutnick Family
The family of Howard Lutnick, who amassed billions through his global financial services, brokerage, and real estate firms, including Cantor Fitzgerald, BGC Group, and Newmark Group, is another Trump donor with a lavish South Florida residence, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Winkelvoss Twins
Cameron and Tyler Winkelvoss may have put their made-for-the-movies beef with Mark Zuckerberg aside, as the twins and Meta joined others on this list in tithing to Trump. The twins’ cryptocurrency exchange Gemini recently announced its expansion to Wynwood.
