Howard Schultz and George Soros are two well-known billionaires. People often search for a link between them. The real story is narrower than the rumors. The connection runs through a political group called American Bridge. It does not run through a known friendship, a shared business, or a public meeting.
This guide explains who both men are, how American Bridge fits in, what a 2019 complaint said, and how the case ended. It also answers the biggest question: does any of this prove a personal relationship? The facts come from public records and news reports, including case files from the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
Who are Howard Schultz and George Soros?
Howard Schultz is an American businessman. He is best known for helping turn Starbucks into a global coffee brand. He led the company for many years and stepped down as executive chairman in June 2018. Forbes put his net worth at roughly 3.4 billion dollars in early 2019.
In January 2019, Schultz went on CBS’s “60 Minutes” and said he was seriously thinking about running for president. He described himself as a centrist independent. That same month, he began a book tour for his memoir, From the Ground Up. His comments sparked a fast and angry reaction from many Democrats.
George Soros is a Hungarian-born American investor and philanthropist. He founded Soros Fund Management and the Open Society Foundations. For years he has given large sums to liberal causes and Democratic groups. His name appears often in political debates, which is one reason claims about him spread quickly online.
The two men work in very different worlds. One built a consumer brand. The other built a hedge fund and a global giving network. Their paths cross in this story only because of a third party.
| Person | Known for | Political position in 2019 | Role in this story |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Schultz | Former Starbucks leader | Weighing an independent run for president | Named in an FEC complaint |
| George Soros | Investor and philanthropist | Major donor to Democratic groups | Donor to American Bridge |
A few quick points help set the scene:
- Schultz called himself a centrist and an independent in 2019.
- Soros has a long record of funding Democratic and progressive groups.
- Neither man is the author of the complaint discussed below.
- The group that connects them is American Bridge.
How does American Bridge connect them?
American Bridge 21st Century is a Democratic super PAC. Its main job is opposition research. That means it collects facts, records, and past statements about political figures and shares them with reporters and allied groups. Political operative David Brock founded it in November 2010. In 2019, Bradley Beychok led the group.
A super PAC can accept unlimited donations. That is why large donors matter so much to groups like this one. George Soros has been among the biggest names on its donor list. FactCheck.org reported that he was the group’s largest donor in the 2012 cycle, with a gift of 1 million dollars.
Later reports show he kept giving. The Washington Free Beacon, citing FEC filings, reported 2 million dollars from Soros during the 2016 presidential cycle. It also reported 380,000 dollars during the 2018 cycle. That 2018 cycle is the one that overlaps with Schultz’s political moves.
Now look at the other side of the chain. When Schultz began hinting at a presidential run, American Bridge started digging into him. News outlets reported that it built research on the Schultz Family Foundation and its spending. A spokesman for the group also said it would oppose Schultz at every turn if he ran as an independent and helped Donald Trump.
Put together, the chain looks like this:
| Link in the chain | What the public record shows | Type of source |
|---|---|---|
| Soros to American Bridge | Repeated donations, including 1 million dollars in 2012 | FEC data reported by news outlets |
| American Bridge to Schultz | Research and public threats to oppose an independent run | News reports and group statements |
| American Bridge to the FEC | Formal complaint filed on February 7, 2019 | FEC case file |
| Soros to Schultz | No direct link found in the records reviewed | Not applicable |
The last row matters most. The link between the two men is indirect. Soros gave money to a group. That group later went after Schultz. Public records show the donations. They do not show that Soros picked this target or asked for this complaint.
Two simple ideas explain how readers can think about it:
- Donor role: A donor gives money and supports the group’s general mission.
- Group role: The staff decide which people to research, criticize, or report to regulators.
Critics of the group argue that big donors shape what it can afford to do. The group says it acted because an independent run could split the anti-Trump vote. Both points can be discussed. Neither one proves a personal tie.
What did the complaint allege?
On February 7, 2019, the group, listed in FEC files as AB PAC and formerly American Bridge 21st Century, filed a complaint against Schultz. Bradley Beychok signed it as the complainant. The case number was MUR 7567. It came about ten days after Schultz’s “60 Minutes” interview.
The complaint made one main argument. It said Schultz had moved past the early exploring stage of a campaign. In its view, he was spending money like a candidate without registering as one. It asked the FEC to investigate.
To follow the argument, you need two basic rules from federal election law:
- A person becomes a federal candidate after receiving or spending more than 5,000 dollars to influence an election.
- A “testing the waters” exception lets someone explore a run first. Polling, travel, and phone calls fit this stage.
- Once a person decides to run and crosses the threshold, they must file a statement of candidacy within 15 days.
- After that, they must report the earlier spending.
The complaint pointed to press reports as proof that Schultz had gone too far. It relied on several claims:
- He was hiring political consultants with presidential campaign experience.
- His team was running polls about a possible run.
- He was reportedly laying the groundwork for paid advertising.
- He had enough personal wealth to fund much of a campaign himself.
The complaint treated paid political ads as a key sign. Under FEC rules, public political advertising does not count as testing the waters. The group argued that even spending from personal funds would trigger candidacy.
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The filing asked the FEC for several steps. It wanted an investigation, a finding on the exact date Schultz became a candidate, forced disclosure of any spending, and the maximum fine allowed by law. Schultz’s lawyers filed a response on April 12, 2019.
One detail stands out. The text of the complaint does not mention George Soros at all. It cites news articles and FEC rules. That fact matters for anyone who hears that Soros “filed” or “sued” Schultz. The record does not say that.
| Case detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Case number | MUR 7567 |
| Complainant | AB PAC (formerly American Bridge 21st Century) and Bradley Beychok |
| Respondent | Howard Schultz |
| Date filed | February 7, 2019 |
| Core claim | Spending like a candidate without registering or reporting |
| Soros named in complaint | No |
What happened to Schultz’s presidential plans and the FEC case?
Schultz’s plans slowed down in the spring of 2019. He said that acute back pain struck while he was in Arizona. He later had three back surgeries. Events were canceled, and his public activity dropped sharply.
In June 2019, he told supporters he was taking a “detour” and would revisit his plans after Labor Day. Reports at the time said he let most of his campaign staff go during that pause. The campaign never regained momentum.
On September 6, 2019, Schultz announced he would not run for president. He gave several reasons. He pointed to his health, the difficulty of getting on the ballot, and doubts that enough voters would back an independent. He said many people feared that voting for an independent could help re-elect Donald Trump.
The FEC case moved much more slowly than the campaign. The agency’s General Counsel issued a first report on December 5, 2019. Then the case sat for nearly two more years.
In late 2021, the six commissioners could not agree on how to handle it. They split 3 to 3 on two separate votes. Each vote bundled a dismissal with a legal analysis based on the General Counsel’s report. Because a tie fails, neither package passed.
The commissioners then voted 6 to 0 on a simpler step. They dismissed the allegation that Schultz failed to register and report as a candidate, and they closed the file. The FEC sent notification letters to both sides on November 17, 2021. Commissioners on each side of the split later released written statements explaining their reasoning in December 2021.
The official record lists the outcome as “Dismissed-Other.” It lists no penalty against Schultz.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 27, 2019 | Schultz says on “60 Minutes” he is seriously considering a run |
| February 7, 2019 | American Bridge files the FEC complaint |
| April 12, 2019 | Schultz files his response |
| June 2019 | Schultz pauses his activity after back surgeries |
| September 6, 2019 | Schultz announces he will not run |
| December 5, 2019 | FEC General Counsel issues first report |
| November 2021 | Commission deadlocks 3 to 3, then votes 6 to 0 to dismiss |
| December 2021 | Commissioners release statements of reasons |
Does this establish a personal relationship?
No. The public record does not show a personal relationship between Howard Schultz and George Soros. It shows something much smaller. It shows a donor who gave to a political group, and that same group later challenged Schultz.
That is an indirect, political link. It is also an opposing one. In this story, Schultz was the target of American Bridge’s research and its complaint. Nothing in the files suggests the two men worked together, met, or shared plans.
A fair reading needs a clear line between what is documented and what is assumed. Here is how the main claims hold up:
| Claim | What the record shows | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Soros donated to American Bridge | Yes, per FEC data and news reports | Supported |
| American Bridge filed a complaint against Schultz | Yes, per the FEC case file | Supported |
| Soros wrote or signed the complaint | The complaint names Beychok, not Soros | Not supported |
| Soros and Schultz have a personal relationship | No evidence found in the sources reviewed | Not supported |
| The FEC punished Schultz | Case dismissed with no penalty listed | Not supported |
What would real proof of a personal tie look like? It would be direct and easy to check. Examples include:
- Emails or messages between the two men
- Joint business deals or shared investments
- Public meetings or events they attended together
- On-the-record statements from either side describing a relationship
None of these appeared in the sources reviewed for this article. Anyone who claims otherwise should be able to point to a specific document.
There is also a timing point worth knowing. Soros donated to American Bridge years before Schultz thought about running. The group also researches many other political figures. A donor’s money helping fund a group that later criticizes someone is not the same as that donor choosing the target.
People who dislike large political donations see the case differently. They argue that wealthy donors give groups the power to launch attacks like this one. Supporters of the group reply that it acted on its own judgment about spoiler risk. Readers can weigh those views, but the documents support only the indirect link.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are Howard Schultz and George Soros friends?
There is no public evidence of a friendship or personal relationship. The only documented link is indirect and runs through American Bridge.
Did George Soros file a complaint against Howard Schultz?
No. American Bridge filed the FEC complaint, and Bradley Beychok signed it. George Soros is not named in it.
Who filed the FEC complaint against Howard Schultz?
AB PAC, formerly American Bridge 21st Century, filed it with Bradley Beychok on February 7, 2019. The case is MUR 7567.
Does George Soros fund American Bridge?
Yes. News reports based on FEC filings show he has donated to the group, including 1 million dollars in 2012.
Why did American Bridge go after Howard Schultz?
The group said an independent run could split the anti-Trump vote and help Donald Trump win again. It also dug into his foundation and finances.
Was Howard Schultz fined by the FEC?
No. The FEC dismissed the allegation and closed the file. The official record lists no penalty.
Did Howard Schultz run for president in 2020?
No. He announced on September 6, 2019, that he would not run as an independent.
Final Thoughts
The connection between Howard Schultz and George Soros is real only in a limited sense. Soros has given money to American Bridge. American Bridge later opposed Schultz and filed a complaint with the FEC. That chain is documented. The idea of a direct personal tie is not.
When you read claims like this online, check the source documents first. Look at who signed the complaint, what the law says, and how the case ended. In this case, the FEC dismissed the allegation, Schultz left the race, and the public record still shows only an indirect political link between two famous names.
Samuel is a Bible content writer with 5 years of experience in researching Bible verses, prayers, blessings, and biblical name meanings. He shares meaningful insights to help readers understand Scripture better.
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