BILLINGS, Mont. — Montana Governor Greg Gianforte has reported an impressive income exceeding $23 million from 2019 to 2022, largely attributed to his investments, as detailed in tax records released by his campaign. The former technology executive, who is aiming for reelection to a second term, continues to showcase his financial prowess.
In the upcoming November election, Gianforte faces Democrat Ryan Busse, a former executive in the firearms industry. Gianforte’s previous electoral endeavors include a $6 million personal investment in his unsuccessful 2016 gubernatorial campaign, followed by a successful run for governor in 2020, where he spent over $7.5 million to defeat Democrat Mike Cooney.
As the current election cycle unfolds, Gianforte has contributed approximately $47,000 of his own funds to his campaign. His tax returns indicate that most of his income since 2019 has come from investment profits, alongside a gubernatorial salary of around $120,000 annually.
A spokesperson emphasized Gianforte’s commitment to transparency by releasing his tax information to the public. Since 2005, he has reported more than $265 million in income, primarily from the sale of his Bozeman-based company, RightNow Technologies, which was acquired by Oracle Corp. for $1.8 billion.
In past election cycles, opponents attempted to leverage Gianforte’s wealth to frame his financial success as a potential liability, critiquing his approach to funding elections. Meanwhile, Busse’s campaign has opted not to disclose his own tax returns.
