The PayPal Mafia is taking over America’s government

America’s right-wing tech bros are celebrating Donald Trump’s victory

On the night of December 7th San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts, with its lakeside colonnade echoing a Roman ruin, turned into Mar-a-Lago. Silicon Valley’s newly emboldened right-wingers had gathered for a Christmas bash organised by the All-In podcast. The festive good cheer did not extend to everyone; The Economist was made to feel most unwelcome. But not before being privy to a riotous celebration of how a clique of billionaires—the so-called PayPal Mafia—helped clinch Donald Trump’s election victory and is taking Washington by storm.

This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “All-In on Donald Trump”

From the December 14th 2024 edition

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