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Obama Mega-Donor, Clinton Foundation Donor: ‘The Economy is Fine’

Billionaire hedge funder has donated hundreds of thousands to Democrats

Marc Lasry / AP
August 25, 2015

Billionaire hedge fund co-owner Marc Lasry, a mega-donor to President Obama and the Clinton Foundation, says that the "economy is fine" after the Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 1,000 points in the first minutes of trading on Monday.

"What I have told investors is the economy is fine but now is a great time to be buying some things when they get hit," Lasry told the New York Times. "Other people may be having issues. For us, that is an opportunity as opposed to a problem."

Lasry, co-owner of the $13.9 billion hedge fund Avenue Capital Group, is one of President Obama’s top campaign bundlers.

Since 2008, Lasry has contributed $282,900 to Democratic candidates and committees, including $9,600 to Obama. He also raised more than $500,000 for Obama’s reelection.

Additionally, Lasry is listed as donating between $100,000 and $250,000 to the Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Lasry has also held fundraisers for Hillary Clinton's campaign. On May 13, Lasry held $2,700 per person fundraiser at his home in New York City. "I think she will best represent this country and do what’s right for everybody so therefore I will do whatever I can to help her," he said.

The billionaire was also offered an ambassadorship to France by Obama but had to withdraw his name when FBI tapes linked him to a high-stakes poker ring tied to Russian mobsters.