Timothy Mellon: Pentagon’s secret donor of $ 130 million
26 october 2025 в 17:37
At the end of October 2025, the Pentagon accepted an anonymous donation of $ 130 million to pay the salaries of military personnel during the ongoing government shutdown. The donation was announced by Donald Trump, who did not name the donor, calling him a «friend» and a «great American citizen» who «loves the military and loves the country», - speaking to journalists. Trump also noted that the donor «is a big supporter [of him]», - but «does not want publicity». Shortly before this, The New York Times reported that the mysterious donor was Timothy Mellon, a member of the famous banking family.
Keep reading to learn more about Timothy and his reported contribution to the American military.
Timothy’s grandfather, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon, was one of the longest-serving in that position in American history and served during the turbulent 1920s and the Wall Street crash of 1929.
According to Forbes, Timothy has a fortune of around $ 1 billion. However, he denies this, writing in an email in 2024: «Billionaire NO! … Never was, never will be», - according to CNBC.
The total fortune of the entire Mellon family is estimated at around $ 14 billion, according to Forbes.
Timothy leads a private life. Despite his significant financial contributions, the resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, lives a life away from the public eye.
As Trump told journalists in October 2025, his military donor «does not want publicity».
«He prefers not to have his name mentioned, which is quite unusual in the world where I come from, and in the world of politics, where you want your name mentioned», - added the Republican president.
As previously noted, the ongoing government shutdown has affected federal workers, including active-duty military personnel. Timothy’s financial contribution sparked debates about the legality of such a payment. The donation was accepted under the Pentagon’s «general gift acceptance authority». However, others pointed out that it may contradict the Anti-Deficiency Act, which limits agencies in spending beyond what is approved by Congress
Keep reading to learn more about Timothy and his reported contribution to the American military.
Timothy’s grandfather, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon, was one of the longest-serving in that position in American history and served during the turbulent 1920s and the Wall Street crash of 1929.
According to Forbes, Timothy has a fortune of around $ 1 billion. However, he denies this, writing in an email in 2024: «Billionaire NO! … Never was, never will be», - according to CNBC.
The total fortune of the entire Mellon family is estimated at around $ 14 billion, according to Forbes.
Timothy leads a private life. Despite his significant financial contributions, the resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, lives a life away from the public eye.
As Trump told journalists in October 2025, his military donor «does not want publicity».
«He prefers not to have his name mentioned, which is quite unusual in the world where I come from, and in the world of politics, where you want your name mentioned», - added the Republican president.
As previously noted, the ongoing government shutdown has affected federal workers, including active-duty military personnel. Timothy’s financial contribution sparked debates about the legality of such a payment. The donation was accepted under the Pentagon’s «general gift acceptance authority». However, others pointed out that it may contradict the Anti-Deficiency Act, which limits agencies in spending beyond what is approved by Congress
© Puhova Marina
