We’re in the season for huge political donations by oligarchs. Which means it’s again time to see what it would cost a regular Kentuckian to make a proportionately equal campaign donation. From Kentucky Lantern:

A super PAC supporting U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie has won crucial backing from one of the biggest Republican mega-donors — a man who has the wherewithal to offset millions of dollars that Republican President Donald Trump is trying to raise to beat Massie in the spring primary elections.

That man is Jeff Yass, who recently — and indirectly — gave $1 million to a new super PAC that in recent weeks has been advertising in support of Massie’s reelection, according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission. Those records show Yass has set aside millions more in what could potentially be used for additional independent spending to help reelect Massie.

Trump recruited and has endorsed Shelbyville Republican Ed Gallrein, a former Navy Seal, to challenge the incumbent Massie who drew the president’s ire by differing with him on several high profile issues and House votes.

Yass is co-founder of the Philadelphia-based trading firm Susquehanna International Group. Bloomberg reports he is worth $63 billion, making him the 27th wealthiest person in the world. Politically conservative with a libertarian streak, Yass has backed Kentucky U.S. Sen. Rand Paul since Paul’s failed bid for the 2016 Republican nomination for president. And, according to the campaign finance watchdog group OpenSecrets, Yass has made more than $100 million in contributions to super PACs in the 2023-24 election cycle.

So, a guy with $63 billion is buying a Kentucky politician with a $1 million donation. These guys have the subtility of comic book billionaires, like the one at the top of this post.

But it raises this question: What would an individual Kentucky voter shell out with a proportionately equal political donation?

The median net worth in Kentucky was approximately $73,150 as of early 2025. This figure is lower than the national median net worth, which was about $121,700. So, if the median net worth Kentuckian made a proportionate political donation, that would be a whopping $1.16.

We are constantly bombarded with text messages and emails asking us to donate $20 to campaigns we would ordinarily support. Just imagine what kind of influence we would have if it cost us less that a buck and a quarter to buy off a politician.