Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg Michael BloombergBloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida Democratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida Bloomberg pays fines for 32,000 felons in Florida so they can vote MORE questioned whether President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden says voters should choose who nominates Supreme Court justice Trump, Biden will not shake hands at first debate due to COVID-19 Pelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act MORE and Bloomberg’s fellow Democratic presidential hopeful Tom Steyer Tom SteyerTV ads favored Biden 2-1 in past month Inslee calls Biden climate plan 'perfect for the moment' OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump administration finalizes plan to open up Alaska wildlife refuge to drilling | California finalizes fuel efficiency deal with five automakers, undercutting Trump | Democrats use vulnerable GOP senators to get rare win on environment MORE were actually billionaires like himself in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that aired Tuesday afternoon.

Amanpour, noting that the founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg News was “outspending your Democratic rivals by a factor of three to one,” said this had given rise to the question “Do we need yet another billionaire in the race?”

“Who’s the other billionaire?” Bloomberg asked, prompting Amanpour to answer “Well, isn’t there a Tom Steyer and a Donald Trump?”

ADVERTISEMENT

“I’ve never seen their tax returns, so I don’t know,” Bloomberg replied, adding, “This is just another investment in a long list of, whether we put a billion dollars into the environment, we put 600 million dollars into fighting guns, and that sort of thing — or, spending whatever it takes to get elected and provide good government, because leadership really does matter.”

“I’ve been giving away, so far I think I’ve given away something like 10 billion dollars for things that I think are important in this country, one of which is getting us a good president,” the former mayor said.

Although Trump has yet to make his tax returns public, Steyer released his own in October showing $146 million in income in 2017.

Bloomberg’s personal wealth has made him a frequent target of his fellow 2020 candidates, particularly those with economic populist messages such as Sens. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersTrump, Biden will not shake hands at first debate due to COVID-19 Sanders tells Maher 'there will be a number of plans' to remove Trump if he loses Sirota reacts to report of harassment, doxing by Harris supporters MORE (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenOvernight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds On The Money: Half of states deplete funds for Trump's 0 unemployment expansion | EU appealing ruling in Apple tax case | House Democrats include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package Warren, Khanna request IG investigation into Pentagon's use of coronavirus funds MORE (D-Mass.), who have accused him of trying to buy the Democratic nomination.

"We do not believe that billionaires have the right to buy elections, and that is why we are going to overturn Citizens United, that is why multibillionaires like Mr. Bloomberg are not going to get very far in this election, that is why we are going to end voter suppression in America," Sanders said at a November campaign event.