Howard Schultz and George Soros are linked through a political group called American Bridge 21st Century. Soros gave money to the group. In 2019, the group and one of its leaders filed a complaint about Schultz. The records show a political link, but they do not show a direct partnership.
So did Soros order that complaint? The records do not say so. Here is what they do show, and where the proof stops.
How Are Howard Schultz and George Soros Connected?
The link runs through American Bridge. Soros gave money to this group. Later, the group filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) about Schultz. The FEC is the US agency that handles campaign money rules.
Here is who the two men are, in short:
- Howard Schultz is the Starbucks chairman emeritus. He was no longer the company’s active CEO after March 2023. He also thought about running for president in 2020.
- George Soros founded the Open Society Foundations. The group says its work covers rights, equity, justice, and democratic solutions.
Now compare what is proven with what is not:
| Claim | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Soros gave money to American Bridge | Documented | FactCheck.org |
| American Bridge and Bradley Beychok filed an FEC complaint about Schultz | Documented | FEC case record |
| Soros personally ordered the complaint | Unverified | Not shown in the records |
The first two rows are facts with sources. The third row is a claim that the records do not back up.
George Soros’s Donations to American Bridge 21st Century
American Bridge does opposition research. That means it digs up facts about political rivals. It is a political group, not a company run by Soros.
FactCheck.org named Soros as the group’s largest donor in the 2016 election cycle. He gave $2 million (US dollars). The same report says he gave another $380,000 (US dollars) by April 2018.
These are past gifts. They show that Soros backed the group. They do not show who chose the group’s targets in 2019.
Why American Bridge Filed an FEC Complaint Against Howard Schultz
The complaint came in February 2019. At the time, Schultz was thinking about an independent run for president. An independent runs without a major party behind him.
The FEC record names two complainants. One is AB PAC, which was formerly called American Bridge 21st Century. The other is Bradley Beychok. The record does not list Soros as a complainant.
The case has an ID: MUR 7567. MUR stands for “matter under review.” You can look up this number on the FEC website.
What the Complaint Alleged
The complaint made a claim about Schultz and campaign rules. In simple terms, it said:
- Schultz should have registered as a presidential candidate.
- Schultz should have reported his money as a candidate.
The complaint also named specific steps. It said Schultz went beyond exploring a possible run. It pointed to hiring political consultants, running polls, and preparing for paid ads.
These were allegations. An allegation is a claim that has not been proven. It is not a finding.
What the FEC Decided in MUR 7567
The case ended without a ruling against Schultz. The FEC voted 6 to 0 to dismiss the allegation and close the file. Earlier votes on proposed actions were tied 3 to 3.
The FEC’s legal analysis explained why. It said the evidence did not show that Schultz had privately decided to run. His spending looked consistent with “testing the waters,” which means exploring a possible run.
A dismissal does not mean the claim was proven. Many readers see the complaint and stop there. The ending matters just as much.
Here is the order of events:
| Event | When | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Soros gives American Bridge $2 million (US dollars) | 2016 election cycle | FactCheck.org |
| Soros gives another $380,000 (US dollars) | By April 2018 | FactCheck.org |
| American Bridge and Beychok file the complaint | February 2019 | FEC |
| Schultz says he will not run in 2020 | September 6, 2019 | ABC News, CBS News |
| FEC dismisses the allegation | November 2021 | FEC |
Each step has its own source. No source ties the first two rows to the third.
Did George Soros Personally Target Howard Schultz?
The records do not show that. They show a gift to a group. They also show a complaint from that group and one of its leaders.
Giving money to a group is not the same as giving it orders. A donor can back a group for years and still not choose its actions. The sources reviewed do not show Soros choosing this one.
There is one more limit. The records do not prove whether the two men ever met or spoke. They simply do not show it. That is a gap in the records, not proof of anything.
Were Howard Schultz and George Soros Business Partners or Relatives?
The records show only a political link. They do not show a joint company. They do not show a family tie. They do not show a direct partnership.
The link is indirect. It runs from Soros, to American Bridge, to the complaint about Schultz. That is the full documented chain.
Why Howard Schultz’s 2020 Independent Run Drew Opposition
Schultz thought about an independent run for president in 2020. On September 6, 2019, he announced he would not run. He never finished a campaign.
People argued about his plans while he weighed the idea. These are opinions, not facts. On January 28, 2019, Michael Bloomberg warned that an independent candidate could “split the anti-Trump vote.” Here is what some Reddit users raised:
- Reddit users debated whether Schultz could act as a spoiler. A spoiler is a candidate who pulls votes from a similar candidate.
- Some criticized his wealth, his business background, and his lack of political experience.
- Others defended independent candidates. Some said the two-party system was the real problem.
These posts show what people debated. They do not prove anything about American Bridge or Soros. The FEC record, not forum talk, decides what is true about the complaint.
Current Checks
Some facts can change over time. Check these before you share this article.
| Item | What the sources show | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Schultz’s Starbucks role | Stepped down from the board on September 13, 2023. Now chairman emeritus. | Starbucks announcement |
| FEC case status | Dismissed, file closed | FEC case record |
| Soros donation amounts | Past gifts, tied to their own time periods | FactCheck.org |
Frequently Asked Questions About Howard Schultz and George Soros
What is the documented connection between the two men?
The link is indirect and political. Soros gave money to American Bridge 21st Century. Later, American Bridge and Bradley Beychok filed an FEC complaint about Schultz. No source reviewed shows a direct partnership.
Did George Soros file the FEC complaint against Howard Schultz?
No. The FEC record names AB PAC and Bradley Beychok as the complainants. AB PAC was formerly called American Bridge 21st Century. Soros is not listed as a complainant.
Did George Soros personally direct American Bridge’s actions?
The records reviewed do not show that. They show Soros gave money to the group. A donation alone does not prove he chose the group’s actions.
Did the FEC find that Howard Schultz broke campaign-finance law?
No. The FEC voted 6 to 0 to dismiss the allegation and close the file. A dismissal is not a finding that the claim was proven.
Did Howard Schultz run for president in 2020?
No. He considered an independent run. On September 6, 2019, he announced he would not run.
Are Howard Schultz and George Soros business partners?
The records show no joint company, family tie, or direct partnership. The documented link is political and indirect. It runs through American Bridge.
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