“Eye-Popping $22 Million”: Trump Campaign Manager’s Earnings Raise Eyebrows
Ben Gray/The AP
Chris LaCivita, one of the top managers for Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, has reportedly earned an astonishing $22 million for his work over the last two years, according to a report by the Daily Beast on Tuesday.
LaCivita, a senior aide running Trump’s campaign alongside Susie Wiles, made $19 million in 2022 alone as a “strategic consultant” for two Trump-affiliated super PACs, based on campaign finance records. After transitioning to a direct role in Trump’s campaign, he secured contracts granting him commission cuts from the campaign’s expenditures, along with lucrative retainers.
According to the Daily Beast, these arrangements have already netted LaCivita an additional $3 million, with another $5 million expected before the election concludes. His deal also includes a $150,000 bonus if Trump wins the 2024 election.
Much of the report stems from information provided by a campaign insider familiar with an “informal audit” ordered by Corey Lewandowski, a former campaign manager recently reappointed to Trump’s team. However, Lewandowski quickly fell out of favor amid reported internal power struggles. The audit raised questions about how much LaCivita was earning and whether his commission-based agreements might be influencing campaign spending decisions.
Campaign finance experts have described LaCivita’s compensation package as unusually high. Trevor Potter, a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, expressed surprise at the figures. “I’ve never heard of a package that rich in a presidential campaign,” Potter told the Daily Beast, calling the amount “eye-opening.”
Despite the concerns, LaCivita strongly refuted any allegations of wrongdoing. “This entire story is fabricated nonsense, cooked up by talentless grifters who lack the integrity and skill to contribute to President Trump’s continued electoral success,” he told the Beast. He added that everyone on Trump’s team, including himself, had been “fairly and responsibly compensated” with the primary focus of getting Trump re-elected.
The Trump campaign disputed some of the numbers reported by the Daily Beast, though they did not provide specific details. Meanwhile, LaCivita’s co-manager, Susie Wiles, works as a volunteer. In contrast, LaCivita’s counterpart in Kamala Harris’ camp earns $13,442 per month.
The audit ordered by Lewandowski reportedly stemmed from his return to Trump’s inner circle. “Corey was going around and acting like he was a Bain consultant,” a Trump staffer told the Beast, referring to the global management consulting firm Bain & Company. The audit, and Lewandowski’s approach, struck many on the campaign team as “weird.”
With LaCivita expected to earn millions more by the time the election ends, the story has sparked debate about the role of financial incentives in shaping campaign strategies.
