10/27/2025
Timothy Mellon, the reclusive billionaire and heir to the Mellon banking dynasty, has been revealed as the anonymous donor who gave a whopping $130 million to ensure U.S. military personnel got paid during the 2025 government shutdown.
President Donald Trump previously praised the donor as a "patriot" but kept their identity under wraps.
At 83, Mellon, who is the grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, has a net worth between $700 million and $4 billion. He’s been known for staying out of the public eye, living in Wyoming.
The Pentagon accepted his generous donation with the understanding it would be used solely for military salaries and benefits. However, the move has sparked some legal and ethical questions, given the Antideficiency Act, which restricts government spending.
Despite this, his donation helped, but only covered a small part of the $6.5 billion needed. 💰
