Jeff Yass

Jeff Yass
Born1958 (age 65–66)
New York City, US
EducationBinghamton University (BA)
New York University
Political partyRegistered Libertarian; donates primarily to Republican candidates and causes
SpouseJanine Coslett Yass
Children4

Jeffrey S. Yass (born 1958) is an American billionaire businessman. According to Forbes, Yass had a net worth of $27.6 billion in April 2024[1] which grew to $49.6 billion by September 2024[2] and is the richest man in Pennsylvania.[3] He is a registered Libertarian[4] who gives money to conservative super-PACs including Club for Growth Action and the Protect Freedom Political Action Committee.[3] He and his wife Janine Yass are supporters of school choice, a cause to which they have donated tens of millions of dollars.[5]

He is the co-founder and managing director of the Philadelphia-based trading and technology firm Susquehanna International Group (SIG) and a major investor in TikTok.[6] In 2002, he joined the executive advisory council of the Cato Institute[7][8] and now is a member of the executive advisory council.[9]

As of March 2024, he was the largest donor in the 2024 US election cycle, having donated $46 million to Republican groups and campaigns, primarily to school choice groups and rivals of Donald Trump.[6] However, after Yass and Trump met in March 2024, Trump went from supporting a ban on TikTok to opposing a ban.[6] SIG had a significant market maker role in the 2024 merger of Digital World Acquisition Corp. and Trump Media & Technology Group.[10][11] Yass added another $6 million in political contributions in 2024 via the Commonwealth Leaders Fund PAC supporting Republican Dave Sunday over Democrat Eugene DePasquale in the 2024 Pennsylvania Attorney General election.[12]

  1. ^ LaFranco, Rob; Chung, Grace; Peterson-Withorn, Chase (eds.). "Forbes World's Billionaires List The Richest in 2024". Forbes. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  2. ^ "Jeff Yass | Real Time Net Worth". Forbes. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Tindera, Michela (April 16, 2021). "This Secretive Billionaire Is One Of America's Biggest Conservative Donors". Forbes.
  4. ^ Stephen Caruso, Pa.'s richest person has spent at least $18 million on the 2022 primary — mostly to influence one issue, Spotlight PA (May 16, 2022).
  5. ^ Wolfman-Arent, Avi (January 26, 2021). "As the Trump era ends, the school choice movement reckons with its conservative ties". WHYY.
  6. ^ a b c Ulmer, Alexandra (March 21, 2024). "Republican trading firm owner and TikTok investor Yass emerges as top donor in US election". Reuters.
  7. ^ "Board of Directors". Cato Institute. 2006. Archived from the original on August 17, 2005. Retrieved September 15, 2006.
  8. ^ Segal, Geoffrey F.; Samuel R. Staley (September–October 2002). "News Notes" (PDF). CATO Policy Report. Cato Institute. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2003. Retrieved September 15, 2006.
  9. ^ "Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives". Cato Institute. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  10. ^ Terruso, Julia (March 22, 2024). "Pa. billionaire Jeffrey Yass' firm has a large holding in company that merged with Trump's Truth Social". Philadelphia Inquirer. ProQuest 2973398817.
  11. ^ DiStefano, Joseph N. (April 10, 2024). "How Jeff Yass' firm makes money from companies like Trump's Truth Social". The Philadelphia Inquirer. ProQuest 3038017978.
  12. ^ McGoldrick, Gillian (September 16, 2024). "Pa.'s richest man, Jeff Yass, is spending millions to elect the Republican AG candidate in November". The Philadelphia Inquirer. ProQuest 3104987657.