BILLINGS, Mont. — Montana Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte reported income of more than $23 million over four years ending in 2022, as the former technology executive who is seeking re-election goes to a second term rake in money from investments, according to tax records released by his campaign.
Democrat Ryan Bussea former arms industry executive, will challenge Gianforte in November.
Gianforte spent more than $6 million of his own money on a failed bid for governor in 2016. After being in a Special Elections 2017he made another bid for the governorship four years ago and spent more than $7.5 million to defeat Democrat Mike Cooney by a wide margin, according to campaign finance reports.
Reports indicate that he has contributed approximately $47,000 to his campaign so far during this election campaign.
Most of Gianforte’s income since 2019 has come from investment gains, his tax returns show. He is paid about $120,000 a year for his job as governor.
Spokeswoman Anna Marian Block said Gianforte is honoring a “commitment to transparency” with Montanans by making his filings public.
Since 2005, Gianforte has reported income of more than $265 million, according to previous disclosures. Most of that money came after Oracle Corp. bought Gianforte’s Bozeman-based company, RightNow Technologies, for $1.8 billion.
Democrats and Gianforte’s Republican opponents in the 2020 primary tried unsuccessfully to turn Gianforte’s vast fortune into a liability, saying he was trying to buy the election.
Busse’s campaign refused to release his tax returns.
