Tom Steyer is a 68-year-old billionaire businessman, philanthropist, and environmental activist. He founded and built Farallon Capital, a major hedge fund, before leaving in 2012 to focus on political activism and philanthropy. Steyer founded NextGen America to empower young voters and has spent hundreds of millions on Democratic causes, climate initiatives, and ballot measures. He ran unsuccessfully for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. Steyer entered the 2026 California gubernatorial race in November 2025 with a focus on affordability and corporate accountability.