Casino Mogul Miriam Adelson Among Top Donors to Trump’s $330M White House Ballroom

The Washington Post has revealed the amounts contributed by 57 major donors who gave at least $100,000 to President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project, with the world’s richest casino tycoon topping the list.

Dr. Miriam Adelson is the largest shareholder of Las Vegas Sands, with Forbes estimating her real-time net worth at $31.2 billion. Through the Adelson Family Foundation, Adelson contributed $25 million to Trump’s White House ballroom.

Adelson’s involvement in the White House expansion was first revealed a year ago this month, but the size of the check was only made public on Thursday (Oct. 15) through a document obtained by The Washington Post.

The Adelson Family Foundation’s $25 million gift matches contributions from tech giants Apple and Nvidia, as well as Dish Network co-founder and chairman Charles Ergen, representing the top donation tier.

In total, private donors have committed roughly $330 million for the 90,000-square-foot ballroom, designed to accommodate 650 seated guests.

Adelson Family Foundation

Adelson and her late husband, Sheldon Adelson—the founder and longtime chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands—established the Adelson Family Foundation in 2007 with the primary mission of strengthening the State of Israel and Jewish causes.

The Adelson family is the primary contributor, giving anywhere from $20 million to $100 million a year. The foundation’s largest beneficiary is Birthright Israel, an organization that seeks to “provide all young Jewish adults with opportunities for transformative and immersive shared experiences in Israel and a foundation for ongoing Jewish connection.”

The Adelsons have been among Trump’s political donors since 2016, contributing over $600 million to his three presidential campaigns.

The Washington Post article said most donors did not respond to requests for comment about their involvement with the White House ballroom. Those who did say the contributions were not made in hopes of any favorable government action.

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle issued a statement defending the private funding model.

Ingle added that the administration would “relentlessly pursue those responsible for this cowardly leak while continuing to protect all those who give.”

Hard Rock Entity Listed

When the White House first disclosed a preliminary donor concept for the ballroom in October 2025, Hard Rock International was publicly named.

While the name “Hard Rock” does not appear on the internal list obtained by The Washington Post, the documents disclose a $10 million contribution from RHI II LLC, an entity tied to Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock operations.

Hard Rock International did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the structure of the contribution.

Another notable omission from the donor list is Trump himself, who previously claimed he would personally fund a portion of the project alongside private contributors.

“It’s being paid for a hundred percent by me and some friends of mine,” Trump told reporters last year following the demolition of the East Wing.