S.F. billionaire Tom Steyer ranks at top of political donors

Tom Steyer gave more than $20 million to political candidates and causes in the 2013-14 election cycle. Tom Steyer gave more than $20 million to political candidates and causes in the 2013-14 election cycle. Photo: The Washington Post, The Washington Post/Getty Images Photo: The Washington Post, The Washington Post/Getty Images Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close S.F. billionaire Tom Steyer ranks at top of political donors 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

Billionaire Bay Area activist Tom Steyer and his wife topped the list of the nation's individual political donors last year, with contributions of more than $20 million to Democratic and liberal causes, a political-money watchdog group said Thursday.

Tom and Kathryn Steyer of San Francisco gave $20.4 million to candidates, causes and political action committees in the 2013-14 election cycle, according to the group OpenSecrets.org. That was more than twice as much as the No. 2 giver, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who gave most of his $9.5 million in donations to Democrats and liberal groups, the group said.

Tom Steyer, 57, is a former managing partner at the investment firm Farallon Capital Management, co-founder of a community development bank in Oakland and a board member of the environmental activist group Next Generation.

Political run?

His record-breaking giving to Democratic causes in recent years has given rise to speculation he may have his eye on a future run for office. In 2012 alone - as a lead sponsor of Proposition 39, which voters approved to close a tax loophole for multistate corporations - Steyer contributed $21.9 million.

This year, Steyer and his super PAC NextGen Climate Action are reportedly preparing to spend as much as $100 million on causes and candidates supporting climate-change issues, which the former hedge fund manager has declared his top concern.

The reports of Steyer's giving have sparked criticism from groups opposing his environmental agenda. Sabrina Lockhart, communications director for Californians Against Higher Oil Taxes, said in a statement: "It makes sense that a billionaire who can afford to dump millions to play in politics is willing to 'spend what it takes' to make energy costs soar for hard-working Californians. After all, he's already promised to 'penalize' those who don't agree with his out-of-touch agenda."

Topping Soros

Steyer's contributions this past year far exceeded those of George Soros, one of the Democrats' most prominent deep-pockets donors, who gave $1.4 million.

Other Californians on OpenSecrets.org's list of Top 10 political donors included former Univision head Jerold Perenchio and wife Margaret of Los Angeles, who gave nearly $2.2 million, all to Republican and conservative causes, and Jordan Winery owner Thomas John Jordan of Healdsburg, who gave $2.1 million, entirely to Republicans and conservatives.

Sacramento developer Angelo Tsakopoulous and wife Sofia, who have given large sums in the past to Democrats such as former President Bill Clinton and former state Treasurer Phil Angelides, also ranked near the top of the 2013-14 list at $1.3 million - almost all of which went to Republican and conservative causes, OpenSecrets.org said.

Silicon Valley tech insider Sean Parker, co-founder of Napster and recent founder of Brigade, a political action committee, gave $1 million last year, with 57 percent going to GOP and conservative causes, the watchdog group said.

Top 100

Other big California donors who made the list of Top 100 individual donors in the country and gave entirely to Democrats and liberals included Oakland real estate magnate Wayne Jordan ($1 million), real estate magnate George Marcus and wife Judith of Los Altos Hills ($977,000), Esprit de Corps founder Susie Buell of San Francisco ($765,000), philanthropist Stephen Silberstein of Belvedere ($769,400), Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff and wife Lynne of San Francisco ($745,000), John and Marcia Goldman of Atherton ($639,000), and Firedoll Foundation founder Sandor Straus of Lafayette ($361,000.)

Making the list of top donors and giving almost entirely to Republicans and conservative groups were Bechtel Corp. co-owner Stephen Bechtel and wife Elizabeth of San Francisco ($405,000), Charles Schwab, founder of the Charles Schwab Corp., and wife Helen ($404,000), and Peter Paul, CEO of Headlands Asset Management in San Rafael ($389,000).