It's official. 2016 is the billionaires' election.
As presidential candidates shared with the world this week how much money they've raised so far, it became clear that super PACS are taking over the heavy lifting when it comes to fundraising. Outside groups like super PACs and nonprofits have raised $4 out of every $5 for the GOP from April to June, according to The Washington Post's Matea Gold and Anu Narayanswamy.
In fact, at this point in 2015, super PACs for individual candidates have raised 17 times as much money as they had at a similar moment in 2011, according to calculations made by Republican lobbyist Bruce Mehlman.
Which means we all should be keeping an eye on the wealthy big-money donors just as much as the candidates -- maybe even more so.
Not all the biggest names in money circles are spoken for just yet, however. We'll have to wait until the end of the month, when super PACs share the names of their donors, to see whose aligned with who. So far, here is our list of the top free-agent billionaires you should keep an eye on to see where they eventually land candidate-wise.
1. Sheldon Adelson
The single-biggest spender on presidential politics in 2012 -- the Las Vegas casino magnate and his wife, Miriam, spent almost $93 million -- hasn't made clear his intentions yet. Last time around he spent big in the GOP primary, helping former House Speaker Newt Gingrich stay in longer than he probably should have. But people with information say Adelson is considering staying out of the primary this time. He does have a near-singular focus on banning online gaming, and presidential candidates Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.) have introduced a bill in the Senate to do just that. (Coincidence? The Adelsons have already given some money to both candidates.)
2. Ken Griffin
The Chicago hedge fund manager and his estranged wife, Anne Dias Griffin, were among the top Republican donors in the country in 2012 -- though Griffin has given to Democrats, including President Obama's 2008 campaign, too. This month, National Journal reported Griffin and hedge-fund billionaire Paul Singer have created a "mystery PAC" called Future45 (whoever wins in 2016 will be the 45th president -- get it?). They said they will skip spending in the primary and focus on the general election, although Politico reports Griffin has given Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker allied groups $100,000. They most likely will be on the Republican side.
3. Charles and 4. David Koch
The Koch brothers, perhaps America's best-known political billionaires, have built a deep and complicated political empire of super PACs and nonprofits to support Republican candidates and causes. They usually stay out of presidential primaries, but if they did get in early, it could be to boost Walker, whom they have said they admired for his fights against unions. You can bet Walker's actively courting them to jump in now.
5. Linda McMahon
The World Wrestling Entertainment CEO and former Connecticut U.S. Senate candidate (she self-funded campaigns in 2010 and 2012) is spending early in the GOP fields' top and lower tiers: She's given so far to former Florida govenor Jeb Bush and former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, and a spokesman told the Center for Public Integrity that McMahon is undecided on who she'll eventually back. But it looks like she will be jumping into the primary to give one candidate a boost.
6. Bob McNair
The Houston Texans owner is actually already spending in the GOP race, but he's keeping his options open, reports The Center for Public Integrity. He's donated so far to Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) as well as Graham and Rubio. McNair is not alone in testing his options: A Center for Public Integrity analysis found that 10 of the nation's top 100 political donors who are already writing checks for 2016 have donated to more than one candidate.
7. Sean Parker
The Napster co-founder and former Facebook president hasn't been shy about spending politically. But up until 2014, it was almost exclusively to support Democratic candidates and more liberal causes like legalizing marijuana and gun control. In the 2014 midterms, Politico reported Parker was a key player in supporting establishment Republican Senate candidates in tight races. It appears Parker is putting a premium on independence: He told Politico he's "supporting elected officials who have shown themselves willing to work across the aisle."
8. John Joe Ricketts
In Chicago, they know the TD Ameritrade founder as the head of the family that owns the Cubs. Within the Republican party, they know him as the man who contemplated spending $10 million in 2012 tying President Obama to Obama's former controversial pastor, Jeremiah Wright. Ricketts's son, Todd, co-chairs Walker's fundraising operation, but Joe himself could stay out of the primary, Bloomberg Politics reports.
9. Annette Simmons
In 2012, she and her husband, Harold, who owned Texas-based chemical company Contran Corporation, were the election's second-biggest givers to super PACs behind the Adelsons, according to OpenSecrets.org. The Texas billionaires gave to super PACs supporting former Texas governor Rick Perry and Gingrich during the 2012 primary. But Harold Simmons died in 2013 and how much Annette Simmons gets into the game this time around -- and for who -- is anyone's guess.
10. Paul Singer
The investment firm founder is one of the most sought-after by GOP candidates this cycle. He's being wined and dined by Republican candidates but hasn't decided on one yet -- even though free-agent billionaire watchers note he has donated to Rubio in the past. Singer is also a big supporter of LGBT rights, which could shake up who he decides to get behind.
11. Peter Thiel
The libertarian-leaning tech billionaire poured millions into the 2012 race to help Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) run for president, and many observers expected Thiel to do the same for Paul's son, Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.). But Thiel hasn't written a check yet, prompting Politico to write in May of "Rand Paul's money problem." We also named Paul one of our fundraising losers this week. (Thiel has given some cash to Cruz.) "I'm glad we're out of time," Thiel told Glenn Beck in March when Beck asked who he'd support this time around.