The Koch brothers go to Hollywood: Republican megadonors have quietly invested in films like "Wonder Woman" and "Dunkirk"

Originally brought in by Steven Mnuchin, the Koch brothers are now helping finance Hollywood's biggest films

Published August 9, 2017 12:32PM (EDT)

Charles Koch; David Koch   (MSNBC/AP/Evan Agostini/Shutterstock/Salon)
Charles Koch; David Koch (MSNBC/AP/Evan Agostini/Shutterstock/Salon)

Over the last four years Republican megadonors Charles and David Koch have secretly held stakes in the American motion picture production and financing company RatPac Dune Entertainment, which has ties to major films such as "Wonder Woman" and  "Dunkirk."

Inside sources told The Hollywood Reporter that the Koch brothers originally became involved because of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin who brought them in "as investors as part of a $450 million deal struck in 2013 — a move that was never disclosed because RatPac-Dune is a private company." After Mnuchin was nominated for his new job with President Donald Trump's administration, he "put his stake into a blind trust in order to avoid a conflict of interest," however, "the Koch brothers continue to be stakeholders in such films as 'Wonder Woman,' 'Dunkirk' and Steven Spielberg's upcoming 'Ready Player One.'"

Mnuchin has been listed as an executive producer for a number of films over the years, but the Koch brothers have remained quiet and don't receive any public credit.

"They're in it to make money," the source told THR. "They're not in it for the recognition."

The Koch brothers are well known for their far-right political financing, and have close ties to Trump and even funded some of his nominations like Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, who has repeatedly denied the science behind climate change.

The world's richest person Bill Gates, who was the world's second richest person for a few hours a couple of weeks ago, also shares a stake in RatPace Dune Entertainment that's similar to the amount the Koch's hold, THR reported.


By Charlie May

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