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Billionaire Tom Steyer is under fire for paying boatloads of cash to Gen Z social media influencers — and also shelled out six figures to a PAC tied to Jane Fonda, one of his biggest Hollywood cheerleaders, campaign filings reveal.
The legendary liberal actress is out in force for the billionaire hedge funder, rallying with Steyer at a Los Angeles campaign event on May 7 and even cutting an ad for his $130 million campaign, which has shattered spending records in a California governor’s race.
“Progressives like me trust Tom,” Fonda declared in a campaign ad published April 21.
Before the “Barbarella” star was praising Steyer on camera, she netted $310,000 from the self-styled populist billionaire.
Steyer kicked in a cool $260,000 to Fonda’s political action committee, Jane Fonda Climate PAC, between March and May 2024, according to federal campaign filings.
Fonda’s PAC cashed another $50,000 from Steyer in 2022 — and another $30,000 came from Steyer’s wife Kat Taylor in 2023 and 2024.
“Jane Fonda Climate PAC endorsed Tom Steyer solely because he is ready and willing to stand up to the fossil fuel industry and fight for a livable future,” Fonda’s PAC said in an email. “Tom has a long record of climate advocacy, he supports making polluters pay and is unequivocal in his support for transitioning away from fossil fuels.”
The resurfaced financial link between Hollywood activist Fonda and Steyer come as the billionaire faces accusations of buying online influence.
Social media creators blasted Steyer for allegedly deceptive tactics after he paid influencers, including Isaiah Washington and Carlos Eduardo Espina, to promote his campaign without clearly disclosing the paid placements.
Washington netted $10,000 from Steyer before nuking his account, and Uruguayan American activist Espina was paid $100,000 to shill for Steyer, which he called “advising,” the New York Times reported.
“Creators deserve to be fairly compensated for their work — just like any other professional. Unlike other campaigns, we’re fully transparent: every payment we make is publicly disclosed, as required by California law,” Steyer’s campaign spokesperson Kevin Liao said in an email.
Steyer’s campaign is trailing Democratic frontrunner Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton, who are leading the field in recent polls.
It’s not the first time Steyer, who made more than $2 billion running hedge fund Farallon Capital, has been suspected of plying supporters with hefty checks.
During his failed campaign for the 2020 presidential nomination, a top Steyer aide reportedly peddled campaign contributions to Iowa politicians in exchange for endorsements — which weren’t illegal, but ruffled feathers in the key midwest primary state.
“It was presented more as, he has provided financial support to other downballot candidates who’ve endorsed him, and could do the same for you,” former Iowa state senator Tom Courtney told the Associated Press.
During that same campaign, President Joe Biden’s campaign accused Steyer of paying black lawmakers or their companies in exchange for endorsements, per the New York Times.
The billionaire governor hopeful also racked up endorsements from California pols who benefited from his campaign checks.
Former Controller Betty Yee, who endorsed Steyer after dropping her bid last month, received maximum contributions from Steyer and his wife totaling $27,700 during her 2014 and 2018 campaigns for state controller, per campaign filings.
Former California senator Toni Atkins, who likewise dropped her bid for governor, endorsed Steyer after receiving $9,200 from the billionaire in 2016 and 2022.
Taylor, Steyer’s wife, gave $7,000 to Silicon Valley Rep. Ro Khanna’s congressional campaign in May after he endorsed Steyer’s gubernatorial bid.
“Every single endorsement Tom has earned is because he is on the right side of the issues — making polluters pay, pushing single payer, and building affordable homes,” Liao added in an emailed statement. “While his opponents offer platitudes and take checks from big corporations, Tom is putting forward a vision that addresses Californians who can’t afford to live in California anymore.”
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