{"id":652079,"date":"2026-05-19T09:19:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T09:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/652079\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T09:19:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T09:19:10","slug":"tom-steyer-shelled-out-310k-to-jane-fondas-pac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/652079\/","title":{"rendered":"Tom Steyer shelled out $310K to Jane Fonda’s PAC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Billionaire Tom Steyer is under fire for paying boatloads of cash<\/a> to Gen Z social media influencers \u2014 and also shelled out six figures to a PAC tied to Jane Fonda, one of his biggest Hollywood cheerleaders, campaign filings reveal. <\/p>\n

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\u2019s race. <\/p>\n

Hollywood star Jane Fonda\u2019s PAC raked in more than $300,000 from Steyer before endorsing him. BACKGRID<\/p>\n

\u201cProgressives like me trust Tom,\u201d Fonda declared in a campaign ad <\/a>published April 21. <\/p>\n

Before the \u201cBarbarella\u201d star was praising Steyer on camera, she netted $310,000 from the self-styled populist billionaire. <\/p>\n

Steyer kicked in a cool $260,000 to Fonda\u2019s political action committee, Jane Fonda Climate PAC, between March and May 2024, according to federal campaign filings. <\/p>\n

Jane Fonda hugged Steyer at a May 7 event in Los Angeles. AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Fonda\u2019s PAC cashed another $50,000 from Steyer in 2022 \u2014 and another $30,000 came from Steyer\u2019s wife Kat Taylor in 2023 and 2024. <\/p>\n

\u201cJane 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,\u201d Fonda\u2019s PAC said in an email. \u201cTom has a long record of climate advocacy, he supports making polluters pay and is unequivocal in his support for transitioning away from fossil fuels.\u201d<\/p>\n

The resurfaced financial link between Hollywood activist Fonda and Steyer come as the billionaire faces accusations of buying online influence. <\/p>\n

Social media creators blasted Steyer for allegedly deceptive tactics after he paid influencers, including Isaiah Washington and Carlos Eduardo Espina<\/a>, to promote his campaign without clearly disclosing the paid placements. <\/p>\n

Carlos Eduardo Espina takes a selfie with Tom Steyer. Instagram\/@carlos_eduardo_espina<\/p>\n

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 \u201cadvising,\u201d the New York Times reported. <\/p>\n

\u201cCreators deserve to be\u00a0fairly compensated for their work \u2014 just like any other professional. Unlike other campaigns, we\u2019re fully transparent: every payment we make is publicly disclosed, as required by California law,\u201d Steyer\u2019s campaign spokesperson Kevin Liao said in an email. <\/p>\n

Steyer\u2019s campaign is trailing Democratic frontrunner Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton, who are leading the field in recent polls.<\/p>\n

Steyer has paid out thousands to social media influencers to boost his bid. Instagram\/@littleyegg<\/p>\n

It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

During his failed campaign for the 2020 presidential nomination, a top Steyer aide reportedly peddled campaign contributions to Iowa politicians in exchange for endorsements \u2014 which weren\u2019t illegal, but ruffled feathers in the key midwest primary state. <\/p>\n

Tom Steyer was accused of offering campaign cash for endorsements in his 2020 presidential bid. Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was presented more as, he has provided financial support to other downballot candidates who\u2019ve endorsed him, and could do the same for you,\u201d former Iowa state senator Tom Courtney told the Associated Press.<\/a> <\/p>\n

During that same campaign, President Joe Biden\u2019s campaign accused Steyer of paying black lawmakers or their companies in exchange for endorsements, per the New York Times<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The billionaire governor hopeful also racked up endorsements from California pols who benefited from his campaign checks. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Taylor, Steyer\u2019s wife, gave $7,000 to Silicon Valley Rep. Ro Khanna\u2019s congressional campaign in May after he endorsed Steyer\u2019s gubernatorial bid<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery single endorsement Tom has earned is because he is on the right side of the issues \u2014 making polluters pay, pushing single payer, and building affordable homes,\u201d Liao added in an emailed statement. \u201cWhile his opponents offer platitudes and take checks from big corporations, Tom is putting forward a vision that addresses Californians who can\u2019t afford to live in California anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

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