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As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the wealthiest individuals in the United States remain deeply divided over their preferred candidate. While recent polls from major outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times indicate a slight lead for former President Donald Trump over Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, the billionaires of America exhibit a split stance on the election.

Forbes reports that 81 billionaires are backing Harris while 51 are supporting Trump. Among the top 10 richest men in the country, there is a notable divide, with some even reluctant to publicly endorse or fund any candidate. Net worth figures from Bloomberg's Billionaires Index provide insight into this influential group's political leanings.

Elon Musk, known for his outspoken support of Trump, has invested over $70 million to help the former president and other Republicans gain victories in November. Musk’s newly launched super PAC, America PAC, aims to champion "common sense, centrist values." Musk seeks to leverage his influence to establish a Department of Government Efficiency under Trump's potential administration, prioritizing a national approval process for autonomous vehicles.

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has not directly supported either candidate. Despite acknowledging Trump’s “tremendous grace and courage” following an assassination attempt, Bezos has a history of feuding with Trump and celebrated Joe Biden's 2020 victory. Campaign finance site OpenSecrets reveals Amazon's significant contributions nearing $1.5 million to the Harris campaign.

In an unexpected turn of events, Mark Zuckerberg reportedly showed support for Trump following the July assassination attempt. Although Zuckerberg has stated publicly that he would not endorse any candidate, Trump's account suggests that the Meta CEO admired his bravery and decided against supporting a Democrat.

Larry Ellison, a known Republican donor, has maintained a supportive stance towards Trump. Ellison donated over $30 million to Republican Senator Tim Scott's campaign in 2022 and shares a reportedly cozy relationship with Trump, although he has not made an official endorsement.

A New York Times report highlighted that Bill Gates is supporting Vice President Harris, contributing around $50 million to a nonprofit backing her campaign. Gates traditionally stays out of politics, but has stated the uniqueness of this election influenced his decision.

While other tech moguls such as Google's former CEO and the cofounders of Microsoft and Alphabet remain silent or neutral, the business community faces a complex political landscape. Experts warn that business leaders endorsing Trump might face backlash from employees, customers, or the public, raising concerns about the broader implications of their political alignments.

In this battle over the White House, the strategic decisions and endorsements by America's most affluent individuals could play a crucial role in influencing the outcome of the imminent election.