Testimony of Azita Raji
Nominee to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden
May 20, 2015
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Shaheen, and distinguished Members
of the Committee.
I would like to begin by recognizing my parents for their wisdom, strength and
encouragement, which are fundamental to my being here today. I am grateful to
my husband, Gary Syman, for his unwavering support, and to our five daughters
and seven grandchildren, for the joy and inspiration they bring me.
I appear before you as a woman whose family endured the life-altering upheaval of
the Iranian Revolution, and found new hope and new life in the United States of
America. Throughout my life, while living, studying or working in countries as
different as Iran, Switzerland, Japan, Italy, France and the United States, I arrived
at the realization that I had been, in principle and sensibility, quintessentially
American all along. And so, I have never taken for granted the freedom to speak
my mind, the protection of the rule of law, and the opportunities to benefit from the
similarities and differences that create the transformative mosaic that is America.
Our country’s de facto motto, E Pluribus Unum, speaks to our belief in unity
within diversity, a belief that has made me effective in what I have chosen to do in
business, in philanthropy, in the political arena, and even in my own family life.
And it also speaks to a world that in its differing views has never been in greater
need of commonality, kinship, and partnership.
Which is why it is an especially meaningful honor for me to find myself here,
before this distinguished Committee, and to have the trust of President Obama and
Secretary Kerry to represent and serve the United States of America, and to be
asked to do so in Sweden, an important partner and close friend of the United
States and a country where respect for the rule of law, individual freedoms, human
dignity and gender equality are hallmarks of national identity and defining pillars
of government policy.
If confirmed, I pledge to serve our country to the best of my ability and to work
closely with you to deepen the friendship and expand the cooperation between the
United States and Sweden. I will focus on four priorities.
First, security challenges. Sweden is an engaged and effective strategic partner of
the United States and NATO in promoting global peace and security. Our close
cooperation with Sweden in support of Ukraine, as it fights against Russian
aggression and seeks to implement ambitious reforms, is vital and greatly
appreciated. Elsewhere, whether in Afghanistan (where Sweden made significant
contributions to the ISAF mission, and currently provides assistance to Resolute
Support Mission and support to Afghan democracy), or Africa (where Sweden is
one of the largest contributors to Power Africa and to the global fight against
Ebola), or Syria, Iraq and Kosovo, or in fighting ISIL, global terrorism and
corruption, Sweden is valued and respected as a reliable partner in advancing
peace. If confirmed, I will seek to further strengthen our bilateral cooperation in
addressing regional and global security challenges, and to support Sweden’s
partnership with NATO.
Second, economic prosperity. As a strong and long-standing economic and trading
partner since 1783, Sweden is the 11th largest direct investor and one of the fastest
growing and largest investors per capita in the United States. Our economic
partnership supports over 190,000 American jobs across 50 states. If confirmed, I
will continue our focus on promoting bilateral trade and investment opportunities,
particularly in emerging industries, such as information technology, biotech, and
clean energy.
Today our economic focus must not just be bilateral, but also multilateral. The
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is an important building block of
the wider trade policy agenda between the EU and the United States and will be an
important focus of our work in the coming months. Sweden is a strong supporter of
T-TIP and a logical partner in this effort, having relied on free trade to become one
of the world’s most globalized, competitive and innovative modern industrial
economies. If confirmed, I will encourage Sweden to highlight and leverage its
economic success in creating prosperity through trade to promote our shared
objective of a comprehensive T-TIP agreement.
Third, environmental challenges. The United States and Sweden have an active
partnership on environmental and climate change issues, including our close
cooperation in the increasingly important Arctic region. Sweden chaired the Arctic
Council from 2011 to 2013, and its accomplishments included a historic marine oil
pollution preparedness and response agreement. The United States assumed
chairmanship of the Arctic Council in April 2015. If confirmed, I will prioritize our
continued bilateral cooperation on environmental and climate change issues,
stewardship of the Arctic region, and scientific research. As a global leader in
environmental sustainability and clean energy technologies, Sweden derives more
than half of its energy from renewable sources, making it less dependent on energy
imports than most EU countries. If confirmed, I will engage with our partners in
Swedish government and private sector to explore innovative ways to leverage
Sweden’s energy leadership in the EU to advance our shared priorities in
addressing climate change and European energy security.
Fourth, shared values. Our growing friendship with Sweden remains anchored in
the genuine affinity between our peoples and our strong commitment to democratic
values and institutions, a commitment expressed in our global partnership to
protect and advance human rights and civil society. It is a friendship based on a
shared heritage that dates back to 1638, when the first generation of Swedish
immigrants arrived on the shores of what is now the state of Delaware. Today over
4 million Americans claim Swedish descent. They continue to enrich our culture
and society and have been part of our economic success from the beginning, by
building such successful companies as Walgreens, Greyhound, and Nordstrom. If
confirmed, I will dedicate myself to deepen this enduring friendship, by
encouraging understanding of our similarities and respectful debating of our
differences, and by taking a multi-stakeholder approach to building innovative
partnerships outside the government between our peoples and institutions and
leveraging technology and public-private partnerships to connect with new
audiences.
Finally, if confirmed, I look forward to meeting the talented and dedicated
professionals of our Embassy in Stockholm. I will support their continued success
and be their biggest advocate, as we work side by side to advance our vision of a
deeper friendship and stronger partnership between the United States and Sweden.
The safety and security of our team, and that of all Americans in Sweden, will
always remain my top priority.
Thank you very much for your consideration. I look forward to your questions.
Newly Nominated US Ambassador to Sweden
A new ambassador has been
nominated to replace the current ambassador, Mark Brzezinski. The nominee, Azita Raji, is a former investment banker. She was born in Tehran and
grew up in Iran and Western Europe. After graduating from high school in
Lausanne, Switzerland, she earned her B.A. in Architecture and French from
Barnard College followed by an MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School. In
her professional career, she has held a number of prestigious positions,
including Member of the Bretton Woods Committee and Commissioner of the
Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.
Her nomination has been submitted
to the U.S. Senate for its consideration. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Ms.
Raji would become the first female ambassador from the United States to Sweden
as well as the first Iranian-born American to be appointed as a U.S.
Ambassador.
Diplomacy
File photo: Athena Center for Leadership Studies
US to get first female ambassador in Sweden
Published: 24 Oct 2014 09:06 GMT+02:00
Updated: 24 Oct 2014 14:40 GMT+02:00
She is also a former investment banker and held a senior position at JP Morgan Securities.
She was a major fundraiser for Obama’s 2012 re-election, bringing in more than $3 million and serving as the President’s national vice-chair for finance.
The US Embassy said Azita Raji would be "the first Iranian-born American to be appointed as a US Ambassador."
“I enthusiastically congratulate Azita on her nomination," Ambassador Brzezinski said in a statement. "Relations between the United States and Sweden have never been stronger, nor have they delivered more for our respective peoples."
Azita Raji's nomination must be approved by the US senate. It is likely to be at least six months before she can book her flights and move to the Swedish capital.
Well-Trod Path: Political Donor to Ambassador
By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE and SHERYL GAY STOLBERG
When President Obama hosted dozens of his top donors at the White House in late November for a celebratory post-election dinner of chicken and pumpkin pie, few in the room could claim to have done more to elect him than Anna Wintour, the editor of Vogue magazine.
And after raising millions of dollars for Mr. Obama, Ms. Wintour had a prize in mind, according to several people close to the White House: appointment as ambassador to Britain, the United States’ most prestigious diplomatic post.
But by the time Ms. Wintour returned home to New York, officials had told her the job in London would almost certainly go to someone who had done even more for Mr. Obama: Matthew Barzun, a genial former technology executive who spent 20 grueling months as finance chairman of the president’s national fund-raising operation.
As Mr. Obama begins his second term in the White House, the donors and bundlers who raised more than a billion dollars to get him there are pressing hard for appointments. The sheer scale of Mr. Obama’s fund-raising machine has led to an especially intense scramble for plum ambassadorships, with as many as 300 people vying for just 30 or so positions, according to several people involved in the process.
“The president now has six years of relationships, not two years,” said Andy Spahn, a public relations and political consultant who, along with Jeffrey Katzenberg, the film producer, was Mr. Obama’s top Los Angeles fund-raiser. “So I expect that it will be a lot more competitive this time around.”
Interviews with more than a dozen donors, Democratic officials and advisers involved in the discussions revealed some unspoken rules: Volunteer for more than one country. Be prepared to serve for only two years, so that a second round of envoys can be appointed before Mr. Obama leaves office. Don’t mention how much money you raised for the campaign (but don’t expect much if you didn’t raise at least a million dollars). Let it be known where you want to go, but don’t publicly campaign for the job.
“You have to find the balance between waving the flag to get your name out there and waving the flag so much you smack people in the face with it,” said Jonathan Prince, a former State Department official under Mr. Obama.
Nearly every aspiring ambassador contacted for this article did not return phone calls or declined to comment about any interest in specific jobs. But speculation about who is in line for what often makes its way into the press; last month, The Hollywood Reporter published the names of several West Coast donors said to be on Mr. Obama’s short list for diplomatic posts — a list as closely scrutinized by Hollywood for who wasn’t on it, other donors said, as for who was.
For some would-be diplomats, the hunt began the day after Mr. Obama’s re-election in November, when the president’s top aides began asking his leading fund-raisers if they had interest in serving. Mr. Barzun has been an informal facilitator for donors and fund-raisers, along with Rufus Gifford, his counterpart on Mr. Obama’s campaign staff. Inside the White House, a small group of senior aides — including the counselor Pete Rouse; Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser; the deputy chief of staff, Alyssa Mastromonaco; Brian McKeon, a national security staff member; and Mr. Obama’s personnel director, Nancy Hogan — have met regularly to discuss potential choices.
Mr. Obama has followed recent tradition in making appointments; like every president going back to Ronald Reagan, he has filled about 70 percent of the posts with career diplomats and 30 percent with political appointees, often but not always top donors. Dangerous spots like Yemen are invariably filled by diplomats, according to statistics compiled by the American Foreign Service Association. Highly sought European and Caribbean countries usually go to political appointees. At least three Obama fund-raisers are interested in Italy this time around, according to people familiar with the roster of potential candidates. They include Azita Raji, a San Francisco philanthropist; John R. Phillips, a Washington lawyer married to the former Obama aide Linda Douglass; and Robert Mailer Anderson, a novelist.
But Asian countries are increasingly desirable. Steve Westly, a California venture capitalist and top Obama fund-raiser, has discussed with administration officials the ambassadorship to China, among other jobs, according to people with knowledge of the talks. The post is currently filled by Gary Locke, the former commerce secretary, who may depart later this year.
Deep pockets are an unofficial requirement for many postings. While ambassadors currently earn a maximum base salary of $179,700, and housing is provided with the job, in some capitals they can expect to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on entertaining. So those who can “self-finance” have a competitive edge.
The expectation is so ingrained that Timothy J. Roemer, a former congressman, felt compelled to bring up his bank account when Mr. Obama named him ambassador to India. “I told the White House and the State Department early on, I can’t afford to do the job like that,” Mr. Roemer said.
Not everyone wants a gilded posting in a European capital. Ellen Susman, a Texas philanthropist who contributed $100,000 to the “super PAC” supporting Mr. Obama, has alerted people involved in the decision-making of her interest in serving as director of the State Department’s Art in Embassies program, responsible for managing the art collection that hangs in American embassies around the world. (Ms. Susman declined to comment.) Others are more interested in policy positions within the State Department or elsewhere in Mr. Obama’s administration.
“There are some people who just want to be an assistant secretary of state for Latin America or something,” said Robert Rizzi, a partner in the Washington office of O’Melveny & Myers, one of several law firms that help clients navigate background checks for high-ranking jobs.
Most presidents, Mr. Obama included, seek to find ambassadors who have business or personal ties to a nation. Philip D. Murphy, a former national finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee who is now the ambassador to Germany, ran Goldman Sachs’s Frankfurt office for four years and is fluent in German.
“In my view, some of the best ambassadors and some of the worst ambassadors have been political,” said John D. Podesta, who ran Mr. Obama’s transition team in 2009. “They have close connections to the president and are understood to be close to policy-making decisions.” But those who “think they’re entitled can cause problems in a bureaucracy that needs to respect foreign service officers.”
Cynthia Stroum, for example, a major Democratic fund-raiser whom Mr. Obama named ambassador to Luxembourg, resigned in January 2011 — one month before the State Department’s inspector general released a scathing assessment of her “aggressive, bullying, hostile and intimidating” management style.
The sheer number of names in Mr. Obama’s hat this year means that most will end up with nothing. Some will be offered a semi-desirable country that they are unlikely to accept, a move that allows Mr. Obama’s team to satisfy their donors without actually hiring them.
Other postings depend, musical-chairs-style, on what people further up the food chain do. Mr. Barzun will get the United Kingdom post if he wants it, according to several donors and advisers with knowledge of the discussions inside the administration. Ms. Wintour was a potential candidate for France but is no longer seeking the appointment, they said — which could clear the way for Marc Lasry, a successful hedge fund investor who was one of Mr. Obama’s staunchest defenders on Wall Street and is seeking the same posting.
A spokeswoman for Ms. Wintour said she was happy with her job at Vogue. Mr. Lasry declined to comment.
September 13, 2012
Obama’s Top Fund-Raisers
Fund-raising totals through May for some of the top “bundlers” (those who gather checks from friends and business associates) for President Obama’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee, according to internal financial documents obtained by The New York Times. The figures do not include contributions from the fund-raisers themselves and may not reflect all of the money they raised. Related Article »
| NAME | RAISED IN 2011 & 2012 | TOTAL RAISED SINCE 2007 | LOCATION | OCCUPATION | EMPLOYER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Tobias | $4,080,220 | $6,206,942 | Miami | Writer | Self |
| Azita Raji | $3,151,647 | $4,764,932 | Belvedere, Calif. | Retired | Self |
| Michael Kempner | $3,096,882 | $4,592,646 | East Rutherford, N.J. | Chief executive and president | MWW Group |
| Anna Wintour | $2,682,001 | $5,448,371 | New York | Editor-in-Chief | Vogue |
| Jane Stetson | $2,433,975 | $3,970,113 | Norwich, Vt. | National finance chairwoman | Democratic National Committee |
| Michael Smith | $2,381,100 | $2,381,100 | Los Angeles | Founder | Michael Smith Interior Design |
| Denise Bauer | $2,360,300 | $4,367,187 | Belvedere Tiburon, Calif. | Homemaker | Self |
| Frank White Jr. | $2,343,649 | $5,946,654 | Washington | Executive | Self |
| Matthew Barzun | $2,312,509 | $2,312,509 | Louisville, Ky. | National finance chairman | Obama for America |
| Steve and Allison Spinner | $2,274,175 | $4,363,410 | Menlo Park, Calif. | Self | Self |
| Terry McAuliffe | $2,228,400 | $2,228,400 | McLean, Va. | Founder and chairman | GreenTech Automotive |
| Kirk Rudy | $2,110,300 | $3,275,375 | Austin, Tex. | Principal | Endeavor Realty |
| Colleen Bell | $2,101,635 | $2,191,835 | Los Angeles | Producer | Bell-Phillip Television Productions |
| Jeffrey Katzenberg and Andy Spahn | $2,064,280 | $6,606,379 | Los Angeles | Founder/Principal; President | Dreamworks; Andy Spahn & Associates Inc |
| Orin Kramer | $2,000,700 | $3,898,600 | New York | Managing partner | Boston Provident |
| Ken Solomon | $1,809,600 | $2,762,000 | Los Angeles | Chief executive | Tennis Channel |
| John Morgan | $1,725,325 | $1,725,325 | Lake Mary, Fla. | Lawyer | Morgan & Morgan |
| Rob Barber | $1,687,219 | $2,995,104 | Cambridge, Mass. | Lawyer | Looney & Grossman |
| Henry Muñoz | $1,667,117 | $2,002,427 | San Antonio | Chief executive | Kell Muñoz, Inc. |
| John Emerson | $1,562,350 | $2,961,800 | Los Angeles | Investment management | Capital Group |
| Janet Keller | $1,531,280 | $1,531,280 | Laguna Beach, Calif. | Consultant | Self |
| Chris Korge | $1,528,750 | $2,879,710 | Miami | Bussinessman/lawyer | Self |
| Suzi LeVine | $1,515,493 | $2,311,146 | Seattle | Marketing, Education group | Microsoft |
| David and Rhonda Cohen | $1,442,950 | $2,222,850 | Philadelphia | Executive Vice President | Comcast |
| Robert Sherman | $1,386,770 | $2,138,090 | Boston | Partner | Greenberg Traurig |
| Noah Mamet | $1,374,003 | $1,745,603 | Los Angeles | Owner | Noah Mamet & Associates |
| Jane Hartley | $1,353,200 | $2,246,921 | New York | Chief executive | Observatory Group |
| Tony James | $1,340,400 | N/A | New York | President | The Blackstone Group |
| Robert Wolf | $1,334,400 | $2,943,850 | Purchase, N.Y. | Chief executive | UBS |
| Andres Lopez | $1,327,323 | $2,045,823 | San Juan, P.R | Lawyer | Self |
| Steve Westly | $1,270,200 | $1,555,700 | Menlo Park, Calif. | Executive | Westly Group |
| Mark Gilbert | $1,232,988 | $3,362,278 | Boca Raton, Fla. | Investments | Barclays Wealth |
| Alan Solow | $1,207,635 | $2,266,635 | Chicago | Lawyer | DLA Piper |
| James Crown | $1,205,000 | $3,205,233 | Chicago | Private Investor | Henry Crown and Company |
| Spencer Overton | $1,182,292 | $2,187,383 | Chevy Chase, Md. | George Washington University Law School | |
| Scott Nathan | $1,151,100 | $1,580,000 | Boston | Managing director | Baupost Group |
| Naomi Aberly | $1,143,825 | $1,612,098 | Dallas | Homemaker | Homemaker |
| Tom Wheeler | $1,137,650 | $1,911,550 | Washington | Executive | Core Capital Partners |
| James Costos | $1,124,925 | $1,124,925 | Los Angeles | Executive | HBO |
| James Brewster and Bob Satawake | $1,121,027 | $1,133,027 | Chicago | Self | Self |
| Kirk Wagar | $1,117,000 | $1,445,680 | Coconut Grove, Fla. | Lawyer | Wagar Law firm |
| Lee Miller | $1,094,701 | $1,094,701 | Chicago | Lawyer | DLA Piper |
| David Kenney | $1,093,372 | $1,304,322 | Denver | Principal | The Kenney Group |
| Joseph Falk | $1,073,600 | $1,073,600 | Miami | Consultant | Akerman Senterfitt |
| Craig Hanson | $1,056,815 | $1,180,415 | Menlo Park, Calif. | Venture capital | Next World Capital |
| Mark Nichols | $1,042,653 | $1,042,653 | Washington | Principal | Wesley K. Clark & Associates |
| Sam and Stacey Heins | $1,042,157 | $1,042,157 | Wayzata, Minn. | Lawyer | Heins Mills & Olson |
| Reshma Saujani | $1,040,872 | $1,040,872 | New York | Self-employed | Self |
| Daniel Halpern | $1,035,000 | $2,250,700 | Atlanta | Chief executive | Jackmont Hospitality |
| Dana Perlman and Barry Karas | $1,030,070 | $1,030,070 | Los Angeles | Lawyer | Perlman & Associates |
| Christine Forester | $1,027,900 | $2,370,538 | La Jolla, Calif. | Marketing consultant | Christine Forester Catalyst |
| John Rogers Jr. and Mellody Hobson | $1,027,400 | $2,905,300 | Chicago | Chief executive | Ariel Investments |
| Vicki and Bruce Heyman | $1,012,800 | $1,713,600 | Chicago | Homemaker | Homemaker |
| Pam Hamamoto | $1,011,654 | $1,885,054 | Tiburon, Calif. | Mother | Self |
| Andi and Tom Bernstein | $1,006,000 | $1,506,680 | New York | President | Chelsea Piers |
| Michael Sacks | $1,004,800 | $1,004,800 | Winnetka, Ill. | Chief executive | Grosvenor Capital Management |
| John Frank | $1,003,794 | $1,003,794 | Bellevue, Wash. | Lawyer | Microsoft |
| Bob Clark | $999,000 | $999,000 | St. Louis | President and chief executive | Clayco |
| Tom Carnahan | $995,100 | $1,030,600 | St. Louis | Entrepreneur | Self |
| Bonnie Porta Monks | $969,897 | $1,659,221 | Portland, Me. | Retired | Retired |
| Karen Harris | $969,897 | $1,000,297 | Cape Elizabeth, Me. | Lawyer | Drummond Woodsum |
| Blair Effron | $910,900 | $1,319,102 | New York | Managing partner | Centerview Partners |
| Mai Lassiter | $882,600 | $1,047,600 | Los Angeles | Homemaker | Self |
| Justin Buell | $868,550 | $1,036,400 | San Francisco | Principal | Buell Newsom Group |
| Carolyn Dwyer | $867,086 | $1,231,900 | Montpelier, Vt. | Consultant | Self |
| Lena Kennedy | $861,155 | $1,696,275 | Pasadena, Calif. | President | Kennedy & Associates |
| Sarah Kovner | $859,975 | $1,237,000 | New York | Consultant to non-profits | Self |
| Peter Emerson | $846,050 | $1,202,400 | New York | Consultant | Self |
| Robert Roche | $846,050 | $846,050 | China | Entrepreneur | Self |
| Andrew Weinstein | $810,318 | $810,318 | Coral Springs, Fla. | Lawyer | Weinstein Law Firm |
| Wade and Lorna Randlett | $794,300 | $1,686,240 | San Francisco | Co-founder | NextFuels, Inc. |
| Fred Eychaner | $785,400 | $843,400 | Chicago | Director of special projects | Newsweb Corporation |
| Stewart Bainum | $764,300 | $1,217,600 | Fulton, Md. | Chairman | Realty Investment Co., Inc. |
| Mike Muse | $763,916 | $950,816 | New York | Chief-executive/co-founder | Muse Recordings |
| Laura Ricketts | $758,528 | $793,928 | Chicago | Co-founder | Ecotravel |
| George Tsunis | $751,408 | $751,408 | Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. | Chief executive | Chartwell Hotels |
| Brian Mathis | $746,800 | $1,798,975 | New York | Managing Partner | Pine Street Asset Management |
| Lazar Palnick | $742,525 | $1,002,925 | Pittsburgh | Lawyer | |
| Cliff Levine | $737,525 | $1,110,525 | Pittsburgh | Lawyer | |
| Louis and Carol Frillman | $723,000 | $723,000 | Seattle | Chief executive/president | Marquette Advisors |
| Michael Parham | $715,032 | $1,592,307 | Seattle | Lawyer | RealNetworks, Inc. |
| Gerald Acker and Barry Goodman | $710,690 | $1,095,690 | Huntington Woods, Mich. | Lawyer | Goodman Acker |
| Shervin Pishevar | $692,610 | $692,610 | Palo Alto, Calif. | Managing Director | Menlo Ventures |
| Jack Connors | $686,300 | $1,104,700 | Boston | Retired | Retired |
| Imaad Zuberi | $685,220 | $685,220 | Arcadia, Calif. | Partner | Avenue Ventures LLC |
| Brian Lee | $680,200 | $680,200 | Los Angeles | Founder | LegalZoom |
| Mattie McFadden-Lawson | $678,825 | $739,625 | Los Angeles | Interior Designer | Self |
| David Friedman | $678,600 | $1,645,710 | Longmont, Colo. | Partner | Sandy River II |
| Paula Tookes | $675,100 | $675,100 | Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. | Retired | Retired |
| Charles Myers | $673,550 | $673,550 | New York | Investment banker | Evercore Partners |
| Junelle Cavero | $667,520 | $667,520 | Phoenix | President | EverGlobe Partners |
| Raj Goyle | $663,000 | $663,000 | New York | Lawyer | Self |
| Kathy Levinson | $658,401 | $658,401 | Los Altos, Calif. | Principal | LevCo |
| John Crumpler | $655,199 | $1,365,699 | Durham, N.C. | General partner | Hatteras Venture Partners |
| Mitchell Berger | $654,175 | $2,272,705 | Parkland, Fla. | Lawyer | Berger Singerman |
| Burak Yeneroglu | $652,900 | $652,900 | New York | Principal | Bayrock Natural Stone |
| Lawrence Rasky | $650,600 | $844,300 | Jamaica Plain, Mass. | Political consultant | Rasky Baerlein |
| Robert Justin Day | $640,433 | $640,433 | Tallahassee, Fla. | Consultant | Zepp Strategic Partners |
| Marc Benioff | $640,175 | $640,175 | San Francisco | Chairman and chief executive | Salesforce.com |
| J.P. Austin | $635,040 | $635,040 | Miami | Radiation oncologist | Self |
| Abigail Pollak | $632,400 | $1,555,500 | Miami Beach | Lawyer | Self |
| Wayne Jordan | $629,800 | $629,800 | Oakland, Calif. | Executive | Jordan Real Estate Investments |
| Alexa Wesner | $612,800 | $1,761,700 | Austin, Tex. | Community Volunteer | Self |
| Sally Susman | $612,800 | $612,800 | New York | Senior vice president | Pfizer |
| Charles and Marie Kireker | $612,225 | $1,086,286 | Weybridge, Vt. | Venture capital | Twin Birches, Ltd. |
| Doug and Lisa Goldman | $610,140 | $1,026,140 | San Francisco | Executive | Certain Software |
| Deven Parekh | $606,000 | $988,590 | New York | Venture capital | Insight Venture Management |
| Alfreda Robinson | $604,445 | $1,036,845 | Washington | Lawyer/professor | |
| Tim Gill and Scott Miller | $592,850 | $592,850 | Denver | President | Gill Foundation |
| Meredith DeWitt | $590,200 | $773,890 | Still River, Mass. | Consultant | Self |
| Alexandra Stanton | $589,420 | $589,420 | New York | ||
| Susan Ness | $588,590 | $841,371 | Bethesda, Md. | Consultant | |
| Kirk Dornbush | $584,616 | $1,086,906 | Atlanta | Consultant | Self |
| Robert Mailer Anderson | $578,000 | $578,000 | San Francisco | Author/real estate professional | Self/self |
| Elaine Schuster | $576,500 | $576,500 | Chestnut Hill, Mass. | Philanthropist | Self |
| Nicole Avant and Ted Sarandos | $576,100 | $576,100 | Beverly Hills, Calif. | Former U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas | |
| Doug Dunham | $573,400 | $960,564 | New York | Lawyer | Skadden Arps |
| Cary Patterson | $572,800 | $572,800 | Texarkana, Tex. | Lawyer | Nix, Patterson & Roach |
| Jay Snyder | $564,300 | $684,900 | New York | Financier | HBJ Investments |
| Terrence Bean | $560,250 | $1,036,895 | Portland, Ore. | Real Estate Investor | Self |
| Ambassador Steven Green | $545,300 | $545,300 | Miami Beach | Chief executive/investor | GreenStreet Partners |
| Stanton Dodge | $542,000 | $542,000 | Greenwood Village, Colo. | Executive vice president | Dish Network |
| Justin Tanner | $537,271 | $537,271 | Roswell, Ga. | Senior communications specialist | City of Atlanta Mayor's Office |
| Linda Mason | $527,051 | $75,800 | Belmont, Mass. | Management | |
| Mark Alderman | $524,200 | $665,100 | Bryn Mawr, Pa. | Partner | Cozen O'Connor |
| Patrick Guarasci | $522,000 | $522,000 | Milwaukee | Owner | G Strategies |
| Carol Hamilton | $513,700 | $772,500 | Beverly Hills, Calif. | Lawyer | Loyola Marymount University |
| Shefali Razdan Duggal | $510,977 | $510,977 | San Francisco | Homemaker | Homemaker |
| Raj Fernando | $508,000 | $508,000 | Chicago | Investor | Chopper Trading |
| Kerman Maddox | $506,800 | $961,275 | Los Angeles | Public affairs consultant | Dakota Communication |
| Robert Pohlad | $506,400 | $506,400 | Edina, Minn. | Chief executive and chairman | PepsiAmericas, Inc. |
| Becky Draper | $505,500 | $1,672,390 | San Francisco | Investor | Self |
| Peter Beshar | $503,600 | $503,600 | Rye, N.Y. | General counsel | Marsh & McClennan |
| Jill Levi | $502,288 | $1,449,638 | Chicago | Homemaker | Homemaker |
| Chad Griffin | $501,350 | $501,350 | Beverly Hills, Calif. | Partner | Griffin Schake |
| David Rivkin | $500,750 | $803,200 | New York | Lawyer | Debevoise & Plimpton |
| Bobby Stein | $500,613 | $1,697,613 | Jacksonville, Fla. | Managing director | Chartwell Capital |
| Leni Eccles | $500,369 | $1,195,049 | Belvedere, Calif. | Board member | Retired |
| Doug Hickey | $500,200 | $1,260,205 | San Francisco | Managing director | Hummer Winblad |
| Shelby Bonnie | $495,800 | $495,800 | Upperville, Va. | Board member | Warner Music Group |
| Joe and Sarah Kiani | $494,400 | $494,400 | Laguna Niguel, Calif. | Chairman and chief executive | Masimo Corp. |
| William Freeman | $489,483 | $640,383 | Nashville | Real estate | Freeman Webb |
| Crystal Nix-Hines | $476,900 | $1,207,500 | Canoga Park, Calif. | Writer | Self |
| David and Beth Shaw | $476,200 | $959,000 | New York | Chief executive | D.E. Shaw and Company |
| Michael Kong | $474,822 | $474,822 | Los Angeles | Investor | Self |
| Penny Pritzker | $473,200 | $904,950 | Chicago | Chief executive | Pritzker Realty Group |
| Jeremy Alters | $472,900 | $2,038,400 | Hallandale Beach, Fla. | Lawyer | Alters Law Firm |
| Anthony Gardner | $470,160 | $470,160 | London | Managing director | Palamon Capital Partners |
| Joel Cantor | $463,150 | $463,150 | Tampa, Fla. | Chief executive | Cantor Partners |
| Sharon Hoffman | $455,700 | $455,700 | Kansas City, Mo. | Philanthropist | Self |
| Sandi Thompson | $454,700 | $454,700 | Woodside, Calif. | Lawyer | Self |
| Alex Heckler | $448,610 | $644,935 | Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. | Lawyer | Shutts & Bowen |
| Ben Pollara | $446,500 | $446,500 | Coral Gables, Fla. | Partner | LNS Partners and The Wolfman Group |
| Tim Broas | $446,450 | $1,020,150 | Chevy Chase, Md. | Lawyer | |
| Elizabeth Birch | $446,450 | $446,450 | Washington | President | Birch & Company |
| Kelly Craighead | $446,300 | $446,300 | Washington | Demcracy Alliance | |
| Kathy Brown | $440,000 | $440,000 | Oakton | Verizon | |
| Les Coney | $428,900 | $1,149,100 | Chicago | Executive vice president | Mesirow Financial |
| Tamar Newberger and Andy Schapiro | $424,450 | $1,260,891 | Chicago | Lawyer | Mayer Brown |
| Dwight and Toni Bush | $421,760 | $421,760 | Washington | President | D.L. Bush & Associates |
| Yolanda Parker | $417,043 | $1,053,993 | Los Angeles | Principal | KMS Management |
| Anthony Chase | $414,300 | $782,800 | Houston | Chairman and chief executive | ChaseCom LP |
| Bruce and Ann Blume | $400,000 | $400,000 | |||
| Cynthia Stroum | $400,000 | $400,000 | |||
| Andrew Korge | $398,910 | $927,760 | Coral Gables, Fla. | Consultant | Korge & Korge |
| Dick Harpootlian | $391,636 | $391,636 | Columbia, S.C. | Chairman | South Carolina Democratic Party |
| Karol Mason | $386,700 | TBD | Atlanta | Lawyer | Alston & Bird |
| Ken Canfield | $381,316 | $381,316 | Atlanta | Lawyer | Doffermyre Shields Canfield & Knowles |
| Richard Gray | $380,888 | $380,888 | Short Hills, N.J. | Lawyer | Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy |
| Conlon Kevin | $380,752 | $380,752 | Wilmette, Ill. | President | Conlon Public Strategies |
| Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley | $377,600 | $1,547,125 | Washington | Retired | Retired |
| Tina Walls | $374,922 | $380,922 | Denver | Retired | Retired |
| Cynthia Ryan | $371,400 | $371,400 | Washington | None | |
| Carol Pensky | $364,034 | $692,634 | Washington | Volunteer | |
| Don Hinkle | $363,769 | $803,169 | Tallahassee, Fla. | Lawyer | Hinkle & Foran |
| Amy Singh | $363,555 | $665,780 | Chicago | Lawyer | Law Offices of Amy K. Singh |
| Chip Forrester | $362,475 | $362,475 | Nashville | Chairman | Tennessee Democratic Party |
| Kel Landis | $355,800 | $355,800 | Raleigh, N.C. | Principal | Plexus Capital |
| Caren Lobo | $351,836 | $923,886 | Sarasota, Fla. | Retired | Retired |
| Mary Lang Sollinger | $350,900 | $475,900 | Madison, Wis. | Community Organizer | Self |
| Cynthia Shapira | $346,500 | $346,500 | Pittsburgh | Senior policy advisor | Allegheny County Executive |
| Michael Adler | $344,250 | $2,288,937 | Miami Beach | Chairman and chief executive | Adler Group |
| Aimee Boone | $343,200 | $343,200 | Dallas | Vice president of development | Planned Parenthood of North Texas |
| Joseph Zednik | $339,764 | $400,564 | Bonita Springs, Fla. | Retired trader | Lake Shore Trading |
| Genine Fidler | $336,600 | $336,600 | Owings Mills, Md. | Lawyer | |
| Dixon Slingerland | $330,913 | $743,713 | Los Angeles | Executive director | Youth Policy Institute |
| Andra Liemandt | $326,400 | $326,400 | Austin, Tex. | N/A | N/A |
| Pamela Eakes | $322,500 | $653,075 | Seattle | Consultant | Self |
| Dean Phillips | $320,200 | $320,200 | Minneapolis | President and chief executive | Phillips Distilling Company |
| Dave Garrison | $316,050 | $316,050 | Nashville | Lawyer | Barrett, Johnston & Parsley |
| Marianne Karmel | $312,810 | $319,244 | West Newton, Mass. | Retired | Retired |
| Mark Gallogly | $312,400 | $903,834 | New York | Finance | Centerbridge Partners |
| Neil Bluhm | $311,000 | $1,045,700 | Chicago | President | VMB Realty |
| Steven Myers | $307,125 | $443,925 | Corona Del Mar, Calif. | President and chief executive | Dolphin Capital Holdings |
| Steve Cohen | $300,300 | $659,950 | Chicago | Lawyer | Cohen Law Group |
| Laura Ross | $299,850 | $299,850 | New York | Retired | Retired |
| Frank Brosens | $297,400 | $1,000,685 | New York | Managing partner | Taconic Capital Advisors |
| Alan Ginsburg | $295,500 | $295,500 | Maitland, Fla. | Chairman | AHG Group |
| Steve Pajcic | $295,013 | $1,216,613 | Jacksonville, Fla. | Lawyer | Self |
| Grace Tsao-Wu | $290,475 | $579,708 | Chicago | Retailer | Tabula Tua |
| David Billings | $289,800 | $289,800 | London | Partner | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld |
| Charles Adams | $289,650 | $373,200 | Geneva | Lawyer | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld |
| Dan Fass | $282,850 | $543,330 | Riverside, Conn. | Physician | Greenwich Hospital |
| Jim Torrey | $274,950 | $1,056,775 | Greenwich, Conn. | President | The Torrey Funds |
| Eva Longoria | $271,300 | $271,300 | Beverly Hills, Calif. | Actress | Self |
| Earl and Amanda Stafford | $262,400 | $262,400 | McLean, Va. | Philanthropist | The Stafford Foundation |
| Jean Bailey | $257,125 | $517,125 | Silver Spring, Md. | Professor | Howard University |
| Kawanna and Jay Brown | $250,600 | $250,600 | New York | Chief operating officer | Magic Johnson Enterprises |
| Alice and Bill Mahoney | $247,700 | $509,500 | New Canaan, Conn. | Investor | Self |
| Carrin Patman | $243,900 | $243,900 | Houston | Lawyer | Bracewell & Giuliani |
| Marjorie Roberts | $226,074 | $522,474 | St. Thomas, V.I. | Lawyer | Marjorie Rawls Roberts |
| Amalia Mahoney | $221,304 | $221,304 | Chicago | Lawyer | Segal Mccambridge Singer & Mahoney |
| Joe Calabrese | $209,905 | $526,655 | Los Angeles | Lawyer | O'Melveny & Myers |
| Stephen Bittel | $209,000 | $395,250 | Miami Beach | Chairman | Terranova Corporation |
| Michael Cioffi | $203,765 | $203,765 | Cincinnati | Lawyer | Blank Rome LLP |
| Larry Fish | $203,000 | $278,800 | Chestnut Hill, Mass. | Chairman | Citizens Financial Group |
| Bob Poe | $200,700 | $200,700 | West Hollywood, Calif. | President | Energy Communications Network |
| Cecilia Soto-Loftus | $193,625 | $193,625 | Malibu, Calif. | Chief executive | Malibu Entertainment |
| George Krupp | $179,118 | $254,918 | Boston | Executive | Berkshire Group |
| Simon Ahn | $179,000 | $307,700 | Atlanta | Lawyer | Ahn & Associates |
| Rebecca and Troy Carter | $179,000 | $179,000 | Woodland Hills, Calif. | Chairman and chief executive | Coalition Media Group |
| Eunu Chun | $178,450 | $178,450 | New York | Lawyer | Kirkland and Ellis |
| Jamie Rubin | $174,000 | $418,100 | New York | Managing Partner | BC Partners |
| Stuart Grant | $171,800 | $171,800 | Wilmington, Del. | Grant and Eisenhofer, PA | |
| Ron and Deborah Ratner | $169,250 | $169,250 | Shaker Hts, Ohio | Executive vice president | Forest City Enterprises |
| Richard and Doreen Cahoon | $153,890 | $148,600 | Cleveland Heights, Ohio | Partner emeritus | Dealer Tire Llc |
| Jeff and Laura Shell | $149,700 | $149,700 | London | Executive | NBC Universal |
| Charles Phillips | $147,400 | $147,400 | New York | Chief executive | Infor |
| Clarence Avant | $146,700 | $438,060 | Beverly Hills, Calif. | Music Executive | Self |
| Ellen Richman | $146,600 | $1,073,750 | Greenwich, Conn. | Professor | Pace University |
| Paul Boskind | $143,750 | $143,750 | New York | Psycologist | Deer Oaks Mental Health Associates |
| Judith Zarin | $143,200 | $211,500 | New York | Producer | Girl From Queens |
| David and Martha Hamamoto | $143,200 | $143,200 | New York | Chief executive | NorthStar Realty Finance |
| Leslie Lewis Sword | $141,700 | $141,700 | New York | Actress | Self |
| Chris Lowe | $139,848 | $139,848 | New York | Retired | Retired |
| Barbara Grasseschi | $137,100 | $137,100 | Healdsburg, Calif. | Owner | Puma Springs Vineyards |
| Martine Rothblatt | $135,800 | $397,600 | Satellite Beach, Fla. | Medical ethicist | United Therapeutics |
| Steve Goldman | $130,600 | $130,600 | New York | Lawyer | Kramer Levin Naftalis and Frankel |
| Teena Hostovich | $126,040 | $126,040 | La Canada, Calif. | Executive vice president | Lockton Insurance Brokers |
| Mark and Marianna McCall | $124,400 | $276,400 | Westport, Conn. | Chief financial officer | Lime Rock Managment LP |
| Phyllis Cohen | $123,525 | $123,525 | Houston | Lawyer | Self |
| Susanne and Zenas Hutcheson | $120,800 | $120,800 | Minnetonka, Minn. | Homemaker | Homemaker |
| John Gorman | $120,400 | $511,600 | Austin, Tex. | Chairman | Tejas Securities Group |
| Jason Freeman | $119,350 | $119,350 | Houston | Executive | Hallmark Captial Group |
| Jim and Bruce Murray | $117,100 | $370,450 | Charlottesville, Va. | Court Square Ventures | |
| Robert and Heather Keane | $116,600 | $116,600 | Paris | Chief executive | Vistaprint |
| Marissa Mayer | $112,400 | $386,000 | San Francisco | Vice president, search products and user experience | |
| Kelly Chapman Meyer | $110,400 | $483,325 | Malibu, Calif. | Activist | Self |
| Rafael Ortiz | $107,400 | $164,400 | San Francisco | Vice president, marketing | Ortiz Family Investments |
| Rochelle Jacobson | $105,900 | $136,300 | Houston | Executive | Merfish Pipe and Supply Co |
| Ned Lamont | $102,400 | $307,130 | Greenwich Syosset, Conn. | Chairman | Lamont Digital |
| Nirmal Mulye | $102,400 | $102,400 | Kendall Park, N.J. | President | Nostrum Pharmaceuticals |
| Melissa McGrain | $102,000 | $102,000 | Pittsford, N.Y. | Skating coach | Self |
| Patricia Duff | $100,800 | $119,300 | New York | Talk show host | Plum TV |
| Cappy McGarr | $100,000 | $242,000 | Dallas | President | McGarr Capital |
| Don Layden | $95,800 | $95,800 | Wauwatosa, Wis. | Lawyer | Quarles & Brady |
| Terry Kramer | $95,800 | $95,800 | Piedmont, Calif. | Self | Self |
| Christina Lee Brown | $93,100 | $128,900 | Louisville, Ky. | Owner | Louisville Stoneware |
| Robert Rawson Jr. | $86,800 | $86,800 | Shaker Hts, Ohio | Lawyer | Jones Day |
| Sherman Silber | $86,600 | $101,600 | St. Louis | Physician | Self |
| Rick Segal | $85,800 | $85,800 | White Plains, N.Y. | President | Seavest |
| Owsley Brown | $85,800 | $85,800 | San Francisco | Vintner | Mendocino Farms |
| Bob Pietrzak | $83,400 | $199,300 | New York | Lawyer | Sidley Austin LLP |
| Joan Parekh | $81,600 | $81,600 | Franklin Lakes, N.J. | ||
| Peter Reinhardt | $80,800 | $139,450 | Moscow | Human capital partner | Ernst & Young |
| Jonathan and Diana Rose | $78,100 | $128,500 | New York | President | Jonathan Rose and Co |
| Woodrow A. Myers Jr. | $77,100 | $77,100 | Indianapolis | Managing director | Myers Ventures LLC |
| Thomas Unterman | $76,600 | $576,300 | Pacific Palisades, Calif. | Investment managment | Rustic Canyon Partners |
| Gabrielle and Sunil Sabharwal | $76,600 | $76,600 | Washington | Homemaker | |
| Jimmy Kuhn | $75,800 | $106,200 | New York | President | Newmark Knight Frank |
| Laura Lee Brown | $75,800 | $75,800 | Louisville, Ky. | Artist | Self |
| Curry Glassel | $75,800 | $75,800 | Houston | Philanthropist | Self |
| Luke Miner | $75,800 | $75,800 | London | Student | London School of Economics |
| Robert Orr | $75,800 | $75,800 | Kamakura, Japan | U.S. executive director | Asian Development Bank |
| Steve Wilson | $75,800 | $75,800 | Louisville, Ky. | Co-owner | 21c Museum Hotel |
| Cristina Stenbeck | $75,800 | $75,800 | London | Director | Kinnevik |
| Glen Fukushima | $75,800 | $75,800 | Minato-ku, Tokyo , Japan | Chairman and director | Airbus Japan K.K. |
| Daniel Crosby | $75,800 | $75,800 | Geneva | ||
| John Miller | $75,800 | $75,800 | Grafton, Wis. | President and chief executive | Miller-St. Nazianz, Inc. |
| David Wolfson | $75,800 | $75,800 | New York | Lawyer | Milbank |
| Peter Novello | $75,800 | $75,800 | New York | Executive | Far Hills Group |
| David Rosenauer | $75,200 | $75,200 | New York | Lawyer | Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher LLP |
| Stan Shuman | $71,600 | $446,750 | New York | Partner | Allen and Co. |
| Eric Mindich | $71,600 | $237,500 | New York | Founding partner | Eton Park Capital Management |
| Judith and William Scheide | $71,600 | $71,600 | Princeton, N.J. | Retired | Retired |
| William Derrough | $70,800 | $89,300 | New York | Managing director | Moelis and Company |
| Mike Cox | $70,800 | $70,800 | New York | Vice chairman | Seabury Group |
| Mark Bergman | $70,800 | $70,800 | London | Lawyer | Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison LLP |
| Andrew Dayton | $70,000 | $105,800 | Minneapolis | ||
| Eric Dayton | $70,000 | $105,800 | Minneapolis | Restaurateur | Self |
| Jonathan Lavine | $68,700 | $144,500 | Weston, Mass. | Investor | Bain Capital |
| Scott Allen | $66,900 | $66,900 | Bethesda, Md. | Investor | Self |
| Ann and Chris Stack | $66,650 | $97,050 | Indianapolis | Retired | Retired |
| Minott Wessinger | $60,000 | $60,000 | San Francisco | Principal | McKenzie River Corporation |
| Lynda and Art Brender | $55,000 | $55,000 | Fort Worth | Bookkeeper; lawyer | Law Offices of Art Brender |
| Walter White | $52,950 | $52,950 | London | Lawyer | McGuireWoods |
| Michael Schell | $49,750 | $125,650 | New York | Retired | Retired |
| Neil Young | $45,800 | $45,800 | San Francisco | Founder | ngmoco |
| Max Schireson | $44,900 | $44,900 | Palo Alto, Calif. | Executive | 10gen |
| David Berger | $41,800 | $41,800 | Palo Alto, Calif. | Partner | Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati |
| Patricia Lorsch | $40,000 | $117,800 | Cambridge, Mass. | Writer | Self |
| Matt Bergman | $40,000 | $68,700 | Vashon, Wash. | Lawyer | Bergman Draper Landenburg |
| Jo Ousterhout | $39,920 | $39,920 | London | Founding Partner | Metta Journeys |
| Fitz Haney | $35,800 | $198,700 | Englewood, N.J. | Financial services | Pzena Investment Management |
| Linda and Glenn Neland | $35,800 | $35,800 | Austin, Tex. | Retired | Retired |
| Steven Adler | $35,800 | $35,800 | Austin, Tex. | Lawyer | Barron Adler |
| Paul Egerman | $35,000 | $66,900 | Weston, Mass. | Investment/Chief executive | eScription |
| Michael Cohen | $30,800 | $30,800 | Pompano Beach, Fla. | Retired | Retired |
| David Belluck | $27,500 | $103,300 | Boston | Investor | Riverside Partners |
| Frank Pond | $25,000 | $25,000 | Los Angeles | Lawyer | Pond North LLP |
| Churchill Franklin | $20,000 | $147,100 | Concord, Mass. | Executive vice president | Acadian Asset Management |
| Elise Boyan | $16,500 | $16,500 | San Antonio | Homemaker | Homemaker |
| Sara Morgan | $15,000 | $15,000 | Houston | N/A | N/A |
| Lola Van Wagenen | $7,500 | $7,500 | Shelburne, Vt. | Historian | Self |
| Tom McMillen | $5,000 | $5,000 | Washington | Homeland Security Capital Corporation |
