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After donating $8 billion, Steve and Connie Ballmer create three regional philanthropies so people closest to the work can decide how the money is spent

2

U.S. Treasury is paying $3 billion a day in interest on national debt, says the CBO—having spent $10 billion to prop up the currency of its top lender

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Google cofounder Sergey Brin has now spent $100 million to fight California’s proposed billionaire tax—he could owe $13 billion if he loses
FinanceDonald Trump

Carl Icahn changes mind, wants to be Trump’s treasury secretary

By
Dan Primack
Dan Primack
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By
Dan Primack
Dan Primack
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August 7, 2015, 3:21 PM ET
Photograph by Heidi Gutman — CNBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
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Shortly after announcing his presidential run in June, Donald Trump listed off three men who he thought would make good U.S. Treasury Secretaries. They were: Carl Icahn, Henry Kravis and Jack Welch.

At the time, Icahn said that while he was “flattered” by the mention, he does “not get up early enough in the morning to accept this opportunity.”

But apparently last night’s debate changed the financier’s mind, based on a series of tweets this afternoon:

1/3 After last night’s debate I decided to accept @realDonaldTrump offer for Secretary of Treasury.

— Carl Icahn (@Carl_C_Icahn) August 7, 2015

2/3 Seriously, the methods of electing our corporate and political leaders have become completely dysfunctional.

— Carl Icahn (@Carl_C_Icahn) August 7, 2015

3/3 In both areas, we are in dire need of a breath of fresh air.

— Carl Icahn (@Carl_C_Icahn) August 7, 2015

No word yet on if private equity kingpin Henry Kravis was similarly convinced by Trump’s performance. When asked about the offer at Fortune Brainstorm Tech last month, Kravis would only say: “That was scary.”

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