Update, Sept. 27: Cruz’s connections to Goldman Sachs go beyond the fact that it’s one of his biggest donor bases. Much of his personal wealth is tied to the financial firm as well. Cruz’s wife, Heidi Nelson Cruz, is a vice president at Goldman. In his personal financial disclosure statements, Cruz reported his wife’s salary only as “more than $1,000” (lawmakers aren’t obliged to be more specific about spouses’ incomes). And in 2011 he also reported having between $158,000 and $495,000 invested specifically in Goldman Sachs products. In 2012, his investments are similar, although CRP has not completed a full analysis. A full list of Cruz’s investments as of 2012 can be viewed here.





Additionally, in 2011, Cruz reported having borrowed between $100,000 and $250,000 from Goldman Sachs for a margin loan. In his 2012 report, the size of that loan had increased to between $250,000 and $500,000. In 2011, Cruz’s total networth was, on average, $1.7 million.





According to a story reported in the Huffington Post, Cruz’s healthcare is provided by Goldman Sachs through his wife.

Help us keep government accountable by making a donation today.

Less clear is how his actions may sit with some of his other top donors — which are also donors to senators who are leaders in the Republican establishment. That establishment either kept its distance silently during Cruz’s marathon monologue or, in a few cases, outright criticized him.

Goldman is also the third biggest donor to Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell (R-Ky.). Since 2009, the bank’s PAC has given him remarkably similar amounts of support: $10,000 from the corporate PAC, and $65,000 from individual donors. Lobbyists employed by Goldman Sachs have been more generous to McConnell accounting for another $20,500 McConnell, who is up for re-election in 2014, has been watching his step with Tea Party-aligned groups, making friendly overtures of various kinds. But he pointedly refused to go along with Cruz’s not-quite-filibuster.

Berkshire Hathaway and its executives have also taken an interest in both Cruz and McConnell. Cruz has received $20,000 for the company’s corporate PAC, and $10,500 from executives, while McConnell has received $10,000 from the PAC and $42,000 from company executives. In 2012, Cruz was also the biggest recipient of money from lobbying firm Baker Botts ‘ corporate PAC — it contributed $7,500 to his campaign. The PAC for Baker Botts, which represents Berkshire Hathaway, also gave McConnell’s campaign $2,000 in 2012. So far in 2014, it has given McConnell another $2,000 and $2,500 to Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), the No. 2 Republican in the Senate who is now a target of conservative ire for his refusal to back Cruz’s stand.

Follow Russ on Twitter: @russchoma

Images: Ted Cruz on C-SPAN via c-span.com



For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center: Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics.For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center: [email protected]





Support Accountability Journalism At OpenSecrets.org we offer in-depth, money-in-politics stories in the public interest. Whether you’re reading about 2020 presidential fundraising, conflicts of interest or “dark money” influence, we produce this content with a small, but dedicated team. Every donation we receive from users like you goes directly into promoting high-quality data analysis and investigative journalism that you can trust.Please support our work and keep this resource free. Thank you. Support OpenSecrets ➜