WASHINGTON — Elon Musk secretly funded a conservative political group in recent years, according to four people familiar with his donations, illustrating quiet financial support for right-wing causes even before the billionaire entrepreneur endorsed former President Donald Trump's bid for re-election in July.

Two of the people familiar with the donations told Reuters that Musk's contributions to the organisation, Building America's Future, had started by 2022.

One of those people and a third source said the donations amounted to millions of dollars, significantly boosting a group whose advertisements and social media campaigns have criticised the Biden administration and progressive political platforms of the sort that Musk himself has increasingly denounced.

Reuters was unable to determine a precise amount and timeline for the contributions or identify documentation linking the organisation's finances to Musk. Earlier on Oct 2, The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk had financed other pro-Republican groups.

Musk didn't respond to emails seeking comment.

A spokesperson for Building America's Future didn't respond, either.

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