Ken Griffin, one of the Republican Party’s biggest donors, is backing Marco Rubio for president, the latest top-tier financier to align with Rubio in recent months.
Griffin, the wealthiest man in Illinois and the head of the investment firm Citadel, told CNBC on Wednesday that he would back Rubio and give “several million dollars” to Rubio’s super PAC, which can accept unlimited contributions. Rubio’s campaign confirmed the planned support.
Some of the leading Republican moneymen over the past eight weeks have formally committed to Rubio, who has not built as much money for his campaign as he has buzz. Griffin had previously told CNBC that he was deciding between Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who won much of the early money from the Republican establishment.
“I think that Marco Rubio has the vision of where America needs to go,” Griffin said.
The Chicagoan gave $3.8 million to conservative candidates and outside groups in 2014, the seventh most of any person in the country, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The top Republican giver, Paul Singer of New York, previously pledged to support Rubio as well.