According to sources, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson may receive investment from wealthy GOP business megadonors Rebekah Mercer and Peter Thiel for his new media company.
It is reported that Mercer has been in discussions with Carlson since his departure from Fox News in April regarding the possibility of investing in his unnamed media company. Similarly, Thiel has indicated to his allies that he may invest in the venture after hearing from Carlson’s side.
As of Monday, it is unclear whether Thiel or Mercer have officially established a financing plan, as their spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment. Carlson’s spokesperson also did not provide a comment.
However, numerous sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, have stated that both Mercer and Thiel have expressed interest in supporting Carlson.
This interest from Mercer and Thiel suggests that Carlson’s new project may potentially gain financial backing from prominent conservative megadonors in the country.
Carlson and his business partner Neil Patel are reportedly seeking to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to fund the company.
If a business arrangement is made between Carlson and Mercer, it could be part of a larger financing effort led by 1789 Capital, which plans to make a substantial investment in Carlson’s media venture.
According to corporate database PitchBook, Mercer is listed as an “executive officer” at 1789 Capital and has already invested in a $150 million fund by the firm.
Carlson officially parted ways with Fox News in April, shortly after the network reached a settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in a defamation lawsuit. The circumstances surrounding Carlson’s departure were not disclosed.
After leaving Fox, Carlson started hosting an episodic show on X, previously known as Twitter.
The new media venture aims to produce full-length versions of Carlson’s X episodes using a subscription model for revenue.
In a recent episode, Carlson interviewed Devon Archer, a former business associate of Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden. Archer also testified before a House committee as part of a Republican investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings.
Mercer and Thiel have previously invested in various conservative startups. Mercer financed Breitbart News and the now-defunct Parler, while Carlson co-founded The Daily Caller. Thiel supported the “anti-woke” bank GloriFi and The Right Stuff, a struggling conservative dating app.
Both Mercer and Thiel have made significant donations to GOP candidates over the years. Thiel has contributed over $32 million to Republican candidates and political action committees since 2016. Mercer has donated over $500,000 to GOP candidates since 2016 and her father, Robert Mercer, contributed $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee.
Although both Thiel and the Mercers have not indicated any immediate plans to support Trump’s latest presidential campaign, Carlson appears to be involved in the 2024 election. He hosted the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa and interviewed several Republican presidential candidates. He also spoke at the Turning Point USA conference attended by potential 2024 candidates.