Howard Schultz and George Soros have a documented, indirect political connection, but no verified personal or business partnership. Soros donated to American Bridge 21st Century in earlier election cycles. In 2019, that political group filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) concerning Schultz as he considered an independent presidential run.
The distinction matters. A donation to an organization does not show that the donor directed every later decision it made. No evidence reviewed for this article establishes that Soros ordered, funded specifically, or participated in the complaint against Schultz.
The American Bridge Connection
In January 2019, Schultz, the former Starbucks chief executive, publicly explored running for US president as an independent. Some Democratic groups worried that an independent candidacy could affect the 2020 election.
American Bridge 21st Century, a Democratic-aligned political group, subsequently filed an FEC complaint alleging that Schultz should have registered and reported as a candidate because of spending related to his potential campaign. The FEC’s case record identifies the group—later named AB PAC—and its president, Bradley Beychok, as the complainants. The complaint was filed in February 2019.
Where does Soros enter the picture? FactCheck.org’s review of American Bridge reported that Soros donated $2 million to the group during the 2016 election cycle and another $380,000 by April 2018. Those are historical donations to the organization, made before its 2019 complaint about Schultz.
The records therefore support a narrow connection: a group Soros had helped fund took action concerning Schultz. They do not show that Soros instructed American Bridge to investigate Schultz or file the complaint. They also do not show that the earlier donations paid for that particular action.
What Happened to the Complaint?
The FEC case did not end with a finding that Schultz had broken campaign-finance law. According to the commission’s published record, it ultimately voted 6–0 to dismiss the allegation that he had failed to register and report as a candidate.
That outcome is essential context. The complaint documents American Bridge’s action; it should not be repeated as though its allegation were a proven violation. Schultz later decided against a 2020 presidential run.
The case also does not establish a personal dispute between Schultz and Soros. The named complainants were American Bridge and Beychok, not Soros.
Who Is Howard Schultz?
Howard Schultz is best known for transforming Starbucks from a small coffee business into an international coffeehouse chain. He joined Starbucks in the early 1980s and helped develop its café model after encountering Italian coffeehouse culture.
Who Is George Soros?
George Soros made his fortune in financial markets and founded the Open Society Foundations. The organization says its work supports groups and individuals addressing rights, justice, and accountable government in many countries.
Are They Business Partners or Relatives?
No reliable public record reviewed for this article identifies Schultz and Soros as relatives, co-founders, or business partners. There is no verified announcement of a company or foundation jointly run by the two men.
Because Starbucks is a publicly traded company, an investment firm could hold its shares without having a working relationship with Schultz. A stockholding, if documented for a particular period, would need to be described precisely; it would not automatically make Soros Schultz’s business partner.
Likewise, both men’s involvement in public issues does not mean they collaborated—or that one controlled the other’s decisions. The 2019 FEC record provides a specific institutional link, and the evidence should be kept to that scope.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did George Soros file a complaint against Howard Schultz?
No. The FEC identifies American Bridge 21st Century, later named AB PAC, and Bradley Beychok as the complainants. Soros had previously donated to the group, but the record does not identify him as the person who filed or directed the complaint.
Did the FEC find that Schultz violated campaign-finance law?
No. The commission ultimately dismissed the allegation concerning his registration and reporting as a candidate.
Did Soros fund Schultz’s presidential plans?
No reliable evidence reviewed for this article establishes that Soros funded Schultz’s exploration of a presidential run.
Have Schultz and Soros met?
A meeting between them has not been verified in the sources reviewed. That does not prove they have never met privately; it means a meeting should not be reported as fact without evidence.
What is the verified connection between them?
Soros was a past donor to American Bridge. American Bridge later filed an FEC complaint concerning Schultz’s potential 2020 candidacy. That is an indirect connection through an organization, not proof of a personal relationship or coordinated action.
