Trump, Harris spend $3.5 bn in most expensive presidential election

US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris spent a record $3.5 billion on their election campaigns, making the 2024 presidential campaign the most expensive in history, the Financial Times writes.

According to the newspaper, Harris attracted more than $2.3 billion and spent $1.9 billion.

Trump, in turn, took in $1.8 billion and spent $1.6 billion.

The bulk of the money from both sides went to media and advertising.

The paper points out that $100 million - or 14% of all spending - went towards Trump’s legal expenses.

Meanwhile, nonpartisan political finance monitor OpenSecrets reports that $5.5 billion has been spent on the 2024 White House race, which is at odds with the Financial Times’ estimates.

US presidential candidates’ election campaigns are financed from personal and party funds, individual donations and funds raised through political action committees.