Tucker Carlson might even see Rebekah Mercer, Peter Thiel spend money on company

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson could see two of the wealthiest GOP business megadonors, Rebekah Mercer and Peter Thiel, spend money on his recent media company, in line with people conversant in the matter.

Mercer has spoken with Carlson since his April departure from Fox News about possibly investing in his as yet unnamed media company, sources told CNBC. Thiel has hinted to allies that he could spend money on the enterprise after hearing from Carlson’s side, these people added.

It was unclear Monday whether Thiel or Mercer had officially moved ahead with a financing plan, and their spokespeople didn’t reply to multiple requests for comment over several weeks, including outreach on Monday. A spokesman for Carlson didn’t return a request for comment.

But each of them have privately expressed interest in helping Carlson, said quite a few sources, who were granted anonymity to debate private conversations.

The move by Carlson and his team to cultivate potential investors like Mercer and Thiel signals that the previous Fox News host’s recent project may very well be on the point of gaining financial support from a number of the nation’s most recognized conservative megadonors.

The news of Mercer’s and Thiel’s interest in Carlson comes because the TV host and his longtime business partner Neil Patel are reportedly trying to raise a whole bunch of tens of millions of dollars to fund the corporate.

Any business between Carlson and Mercer may very well be part of a bigger financing effort led by investment firm 1789 Capital, which is already planning an eight-figure investment into the previous Fox News host’s media enterprise.

Mercer is listed on the company database PitchBook as an “executive officer” at 1789 Capital and has already reportedly invested right into a 1789 Capital fund price $150 million.

Fox and Carlson officially parted ways in April, days after the network reached a greater than $700 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation lawsuit. Fox refused to say why Carlson was leaving, save for a press release during which Fox thanked him “for his service to the network.”

Shortly after leaving Fox, Carlson began hosting an episodic show on X, the platform formerly referred to as Twitter.

The brand new media enterprise would create full-length versions of Carlson’s X episodes, The Wall Street Journal reported, built around a subscription model for revenue.

A recent episode featured Carlson interviewing Devon Archer, a former business associate of President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. Archer also testified before a House committee in late July, a part of a Republican probe into Hunter Biden’s business dealings.

Mercer and Thiel have for years been separate investors in a various array of conservative startups.

Mercer was an investor in Breitbart News, which was founded by the late conservative commentator Andrew Breitbart, and the now shuttered right-wing social media site, Parler. Carlson co-founded The Day by day Caller, a conservative news site.

Thiel-backed the “anti-woke” bank GloriFi, which reportedly later shutdown, in line with The Wall Street Journal.  He’s also financing The Right Stuff, a dating app meant for conservatives which is reportedly struggling to realize a considerable amount of users. Thiel also appeared on Carlson’s show on Fox News in 2019.

Mercer and Thiel have each poured waves of cash toward GOP candidates running for office.

Thiel has donated greater than $32 million because the start of the 2016 election cycle toward Republicans candidates or political motion committees, in line with data from the nonpartisan OpenSecrets.

Yet this giving has not prolonged to the Republican presidential primary currently underway. Up to now, Thiel has said he has no plans to assist individual candidates within the 2024 election cycle.

Mercer has contributed well over $500,000 to assist GOP candidates since 2016, in line with the information.

The broader Mercer family also supported candidate Donald Trump throughout the 2016 election, and Rebekah’s father, Robert Mercer, gave $1 million to Trump’s 2017 inaugural committee.

Like Thiel, the Mercers haven’t indicated they’ve any immediate plans to back Trump’s latest run for president.

The Mercers have not made a contribution to this point this cycle to anyone running for federal office, including Trump.

Carlson himself, though, does seem like attempting to have a job within the 2024 election. In July, he hosted the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa, where he interviewed no less than six Republican presidential candidates.

Carlson spoke on the Turning Point USA conference that very same month, where other 2024 candidates attended and spoke to a crowd of young conservative voters.