Elon Musk has given more than $276 million to Republican groups and his own America PAC since July, making him the largest known donor of the 2026 midterm elections, according to figures provided to The New York Times ahead of Thursday's federal filing deadline.

The spending marks a reversal from May 2025, when Musk said, "In terms of political spending, I'm going to do a lot less in the future."

The money has helped Republicans build a financial advantage in a cycle with difficult political conditions for the party. Republican outside groups, including President Trump's super PAC, are buying heavy late-campaign advertising, while Democrats have voiced concern about their own finances and have no billionaire donor operating at Musk's scale, the Times reported.

The largest single check went to the Senate Leadership Fund, the main super PAC backing Republican Senate candidates. Musk gave the group $158 million over the summer, a quarterly record for one donor at the organization and more than its Democratic counterpart raised from all sources in the same quarter.

America PAC, which Musk founded in 2024, received more than $76 million from him over the same period. His federal committee contributions for the 2025-26 cycle now total about $366 million, including $90 million given before July. Musk previously gave roughly $290 million during the 2023-24 cycle. People briefed on his giving told the Times he also made undisclosed donations in both cycles, including seven-figure contributions this year through groups that keep their donors private.