Thomas Steyer

Thomas Steyer has no criminal record and has not been charged with or convicted of fraud, bribery, or corruption. His career, particularly during his time leading the hedge fund Farallon Capital, has faced recurring political controversy regarding his past business practices and investment holdings. Critics have frequently challenged his climate activism due to Farallon Capital’s historical investments in coal and private prisons, such as CoreCivic. Steyer has publicly called those investments a mistake, noted he divested from them, and stated he maintains policies to avoid direct investments in fossil fuels and private prisons. Additionally, his 2026 gubernatorial campaign faced scrutiny regarding his use of paid social media influencers, which prompted a complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission over disclosure practices, and debates over whether his investments in offshore, foreign-domiciled funds conflict with his public statements on taxation.