Las Vegas tycoon who believes aliens can be found on Earth gave DeSantis $10 million

Zac Anderson, Tallahassee Democrat
·2 min read
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Gov. Ron DeSantis’ reelection campaign received a $10 million contribution this month from a Las Vegas tycoon who believes aliens can be found on earth and has funded research into the afterlife and paranormal activity.

Robert Bigelow is now DeSantis' largest individual donor. He made a fortune from the Budget Suites of America extended-stay rental chain, which he founded in 1987. He put $350 million in profits from that business into Bigelow Aerospace, according to a 2021 profile in the New York Times.

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According to the New York Times, Bigelow Aerospace "bought the license from NASA to build expandable space habitats, launching the unmanned Genesis I and II inflatable modules into orbit in 2006 and 2007."

Bigelow has funded a variety of other eclectic pursuits. He established nearly $1 million in prizes for research offering the best evidence of consciousness after death. He also founded an institute to study the paranormal and purchased the 480-acre Skinwalker Ranch to investigate reports of paranormal activity on the property. He later sold the ranch.

Robert Bigelow, founder and president of Bigelow Aerospace, shows a model of an inflatable habitat that could be used for future space exploration, during a news conference at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Bigelow donated $10 million to Gov. Ron DeSantis' reelection campaign, making him the governor's largest donor.
Robert Bigelow, founder and president of Bigelow Aerospace, shows a model of an inflatable habitat that could be used for future space exploration, during a news conference at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Bigelow donated $10 million to Gov. Ron DeSantis' reelection campaign, making him the governor's largest donor.

In a 2017 interview with 60 Minutes, Bigelow said he is "totally convinced" that aliens exist. He added that "you don't have to go anywhere" to find aliens because they are "right under people's noses" here on Earth.

Before Bigelow's contribution, the largest individual contributor to DeSantis was billionaire Ken Griffin, who gave $5 million.

DeSantis has amassed a huge campaign fund as he seeks a second term amid speculation that he eventually will run for president. Some of the biggest donors in conservative politics, including at least 42 billionaires, have contributed to his campaign.

As of July 8, DeSantis had $129 million in cash on hand between his campaign account and political committee.

Follow Herald-Tribune Political Editor Zac Anderson on Twitter at @zacjanderson. He can be reached at zac.anderson@heraldtribune.com

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' biggest donor is now tycoon Robert Bigelow