Trumpiverse: Ranking Trump’s Inner Circle

Here is Forbes’s real-time ranking of Trump’s new brain trust. 

1. Elon Musk

The world’s richest man spent over $200 million to get Trump elected, and his Department Of Government Efficiency has exerted vast influence, rapidly slashing agencies like USAID and accessing the government’s payment and HR systems. He’s also become inseparable with the commander in chief—even popping up in Trump family photos at Mar-A-Lago. How long can that last? (Net worth: More than $400 billion.)

2. Susie Wiles

White House chief of staff led Trump’s 2024 campaign, and is widely credited with disciplining a chaotic operation. Still, Trump’s prior chiefs of staff have struggled to stay employed.

3. Stephen Miller

The deputy chief of staff has become a fierce advocate and public face of Trump’s deportation plans—and he was likely behind Trump’s surge of immigration executive orders within hours of taking office. His hardline views on immigration could cause clashes with allies like Musk.

🟢 4. Steve Witkoff | ⬆ 1

Trump’s Middle East envoy is getting a lot of credit for the Israel-Hamas ceasefire—and he’s touting Trump’s controversial plan for the U.S. to “take over” Gaza. The real estate investor and Trump friend also took center stage on Inauguration Day. (Net worth: At least $1 billion.)

🟢 5. Peter Thiel | ⬆ 1

The billionaire v.c. was Trump’s biggest Silicon Valley backer in 2016, but more importantly, many of Trump’s allies have deep ties to Thiel or are his acolytes. JD Vance is a Thiel protégé, and Thiel is close with other Trump associates like Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. His relationship with David Sacks—from mentor to co-author to co-founder of PayPal—goes back decades. Thiel isn’t taking a formal Trump administration job, and he and Trump reportedly had a falling out over donations in 2023. But his influence over this White House—through all his connections—should be massive. (Net worth: $15.4 billion.)

🟢 6. Tom Homan | NEW

The White House “border czar” is helping to lead Trump and Miller’s sweeping mass deportation program, and he’s a high-profile defender of the administration’s more contentious policies, like the plan to house deportees at Guantanamo Bay.

7. Howard Lutnick

Cantor Fitzgerald CEO and a longtime Trump friend, Lutnick was nominated Commerce Secretary, and he’s a regular presence at Mar-A-Lago and at Trump events. He wanted Treasury, but Trump reportedly grew tired of his campaigning. (Net worth: Over $1.5 billion.)

8. Donald Trump Jr.

Deemed his father’s “loyalty scanner,” he’s the only Trump child regularly in the mix. He describes his role as ensuring “bad actors are not getting into the administration,” and championed JD Vance for V.P. He’s not taking a formal role, instead joining prediction site Kalshi and a MAGA-leaning v.c. firm. (Net worth: $50 million).

9. JD Vance

An attack dog during the campaign, the vice president has lobbied senators to confirm Trump’s Cabinet picks and reportedly weighed in on key hires. Widely seen as Trump’s possible MAGA successor. (Net worth: Around $10 million.)

🟢 10. Marco Rubio | ⬆ 2

Trump’s secretary of state is a leading Trump Yes Man in early foreign policy moves: USAID’s shuttering, the proposed Gaza takeover, a plan to send deportees to El Salvador and even a longshot push to buy Greenland. He’s an Iran and China hawk, though he’s vowed to back “whatever the president’s policies are.” (Net worth: Over $1 million.)

🔴 11. Russell Vought | ⬇ 1

Trump picked him to lead the Office of Management and Budget, a low-profile role that grew even more powerful with Trump’s unprecedented attempt to pause many federal grants (which the courts have put on hold). If confirmed by the Senate, Vought will be the top enforcer of that sweeping rule—and could be in charge of deciding who gets an exemption.

🔴 12. Pete Hegseth | ⬇ 1

In one of Trump’s first big victories, his defense secretary—a former Fox News host—was confirmed by the Senate despite a bitter fight over a sexual assault allegation (which he denies) and controversial views.

🔴 13. Scott Bessent | ⬇ 9

The hedge fund exec was easily confirmed as Treasury secretary, but Musk has gained access to the agency’s payment system with little pushback, making Bessent’s power unclear. Trump’s sweeping 10% tariffs on China could also clash with Bessent, who’s called for more gradual tariffs. He won the job after Musk criticized him as a “business-as-usual choice,” but has Wall Street’s approval.

🔴 14. Linda McMahon | ⬇ 1

Trump’s Education secretary nominee, she co-chaired Trump’s transition, and her pro-wrestling DNA (she co-founded the company that became WWE with husband Vince) pairs well with Trump. She runs the MAGA-inspired America First Policy Institute think tank. (Vince McMahon’s net worth: About $3.2 billion.)

15. Jared Kushner

Trump’s son-in-law told Forbes he may advise Trump informally, but so far, his influence is not apparent—though some see his hand in Trump’s dream of turning Gaza into the “riviera of the Middle East” (Kushner controversially suggested something like that last year). He advised Lutnick and may assist more with Middle East diplomacy. (Net worth: Just under $1 billion.)

🔴 16. Dana White | ⬇ 2

The UFC kingpin got a prime seat at Trump’s inauguration, and he’ll serve on Meta’s board, likely making him Trump’s envoy to the social media giant. White and Trump’s decades-long friendship stretches back to when Trump hosted UFC fights at his Atlantic City casino.

🔴 17. Marc Andreessen | ⬇ 1

A v.c. giant worth $1.9 billion, he has described himself as an “unpaid volunteer” for DOGE and said he spent about half his time post-Election Day at or near Mar-A-Lago, often helping to screen job candidates. He’s also become a major media surrogate for Trump, talking to various big news outlets about why so many Silicon Valley Democrats switched sides.

🔴 18. Pam Bondi | ⬇ 1

Picked for attorney general hours after Matt Gaetz dropped out. A big-time Trump ally and former Florida attorney general, Bondi represented Trump in his first impeachment, signaling he wants a loyalist to helm the Justice Department.

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🔴 19. Kash Patel | ⬇ 1

Trump FBI director pick is known for his fierce loyalty. The Jan. 1 New Orleans attack has led some allies to push for his speedy confirmation. He’s facing very little Senate GOP resistance despite hardline views, like promoting 2020 election conspiracies and promising to punish Trump’s supposed enemies, including those “in the media.”

20. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The controversial nominee for Health and Human Services secretary is a vaccine skeptic whose views alarm a lot of experts. He’s also had to apologize for comparing Trump fans to Nazis. Still, he appears likely to make it through the Senate. (Net worth: about $15 million.)

🔴 21. David Sacks | ⬇ 2

The Silicon Valley v.c. and friend of Musk’s will serve as Trump’s “AI and crypto czar,” after fundraising for Trump in San Francisco, boosting the president-elect on his influential “All In” podcast and spending election night at Mar-A-Lago.

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🔴 22. Boris Epshteyn | ⬇ 1

A longtime adviser, his stock surely fell after Trump’s attorneys launched an investigation for allegedly seeking payments from jobseekers, like Bessent, which Epshteyn denies. But Trump shared an article praising his “loyalty”—suggesting he’s still in the president-elect’s good graces. (He and Musk are reported rivals.)

Exiled?

🔴 Vivek Ramaswamy

The entrepreneur, once a key Trump surrogate, is leaving DOGE after he clashed with Trump allies on H-1B visas and reportedly had “worn out his welcome” in the inner circle—and lost favor with Musk, who reportedly helped push him out. He’s expected to run for governor of Ohio next.

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Others to Watch:

Tulsi Gabbard: Trump chose the Democrat-turned-Trump backer for director of national intelligence, and she reportedly sat in on transition meetings. But she’s controversial for her comments on Russia and Syria.

Charlie Kirk: The bombastic podcaster and Turning Point USA founder played a role in Trump’s get-out-the-vote efforts, and he reportedly helped screen Trump administration job candidates for loyalty. He’s known for his ties to Donald Trump Jr.

Jeffrey Yass: The GOP megadonor—worth $49.6 billion—could be a key figure in the fight over TikTok, as his trading firm owns a stake in parent company ByteDance. Trump is now opposed to banning TikTok on national security grounds, a reversal from 2020.

Harold Hamm: The oil tycoon—worth $18.5 billion—reportedly raised money for Trump, and was often spotted at Mar-A-Lago. He’s pushed to undo Biden-era electric car credits.

Steve Schwarzman: The Blackstone co-founder—worth some $53.7 billion—backed Trump despite earlier reservations, and reportedly advised Lutnick on the transition.

Kevin Warsh: Trump is reportedly mulling the former Federal Reserve board member for Fed chair after Jerome Powell’s term ends in 2026—though he wasn’t picked for Treasury secretary.

Timothy Mellon: This banking heir gave some $150 million to help elect Trump, more than anyone else. It’s not clear what role the reclusive former railroad exec could play. (His family is worth $14.1 billion.)

Miriam Adelson: The widow of Sheldon Adelson—worth $31.4 billion—is among Trump’s biggest donors, getting a good spot at Trump’s inauguration.

Tucker Carlson: The former Fox News host has linked himself to Trump, speaking at his Madison Square Garden rally and hosting a show from Mar-A-Lago on election night.