The PACs supporting Rand Paul got a big boost from a handful of deep-pocketed libertarians. | AP Photo Rand Paul super PACs raise $4.6 million Donations came from Whole Foods’ co-CEO and Crossfit.

A trio of super PACs supporting Rand Paul’s longshot campaign for the GOP presidential nomination raised $4.6 million in the second half of last year, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

The PACs got a big boost from a handful of deep-pocketed libertarians, including tech executive George Macricostas (who donated $1 million), entrepreneur Scott Banister ($750,000), investor Jeff Yaas ($550,000), agri-business tycoon Chris Rufer ($500,000) and Whole Foods co-founder John Mackey ($200,000).


The PACs ― Concerned American Voters, America's Liberty PAC and Purple PAC ― spent $5.9 million in the second half of 2015 and finished the year with $4.4 million in the bank. Purple PAC, which appears to have ceased raising money in the second half of the year, donated $250,000 to the most robust PAC of the trio, Concerned American Voters.

It’s run by former FreedomWorks president Matt Kibbe and Young Americans for Liberty President Jeff Frazee, and it accounted for $3.2 million of the haul.

It’s the PAC that received the $200,000 from Mackey, who previously gave $50,000 to America's Liberty PAC. While he has long been vocal about his libertarian beliefs, he hasn’t been a major donor until recently, and some of his previous forays into politics have caused grief for Whole Foods, where he remains co-CEO.

Another brand that’s popular among urban professionals, fitness company Crossfit, donated $10,000 to America’s Liberty PAC.