Another anonymous donor has supercharged Luigi Mangione’s defense fund, this time with a $50,000 boost that has reignited grassroots enthusiasm and the debate around one of the nation’s most polarizing criminal cases.

The large donation, made anonymously on July 16, marks the single largest contribution to date in the ongoing fundraising campaign for Mangione, who faces federal murder and other charges in connection with the December 2024 shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

“I already knew about the life-saving treatment denials of cancer patients (like my mom) and severely ill, elderly + the Senate inv report,” the donor wrote in a message posted alongside the donation. “I’d hear her crying of pain; it’s always been messy. — For legal purposes, this is unrelated to any litigation.”

There was another anonymous $36,500 donation to Mangione’s fund in March, according to The New York Post.

The dramatic influx has pushed Mangione’s total defense fund to $1,202,400 out of a newly revised $1.5 million goal. Since its creation in December 2024, the fund has repeatedly raised its target as donations surged beyond expectations.

The Breakdown:

  • A July 16 anonymous donor gave $50,000 to Luigi Mangione’s legal defense fund.

  • The donor cited family hardship and frustration with the U.S. health system as motivating factors.

  • Smaller donors responded with praise and renewed support for Mangione’s cause.

  • The fund has now raised over $1.2 million, with more than 32,000 individual contributions.

  • Mangione faces the death penalty in the high-profile federal case.

Smaller supporters were quick to react to the $50,000 contribution with messages of solidarity. “Thank you to the 50,000 dollar donor. Incredible. So sorry to hear about your mom! Let’s get Luigi to 2 million,” a woman named Valerie wrote with her $5 donation.

Another donor, who listed themselves as “Concerned Citizen,” wrote, “Luigi means the world to me. He stands among the small group of men in the world I respect and admire for their bravery in the face of oppression.” They also quoted Russian dissident Alexei Navalny: “When corruption is the very foundation of a regime, those who battle it are extremists.”

One anonymous $5 donor wrote, “My friend is trying to get Ozempic to lose weight, she is obese and needs it for medical reason. Insurance refuses to cover it… this ‘model’ of health insurance is unsustainable, we are dying. We need to keep FIGHTING!!”

The support comes amid a swelling online movement surrounding Mangione’s case, which has ignited both outrage and admiration. The University of Pennsylvania graduate was arrested on December 9, 2024, at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania following a five-day manhunt. Federal officials allege Mangione “cold-bloodedly” murdered Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel and are seeking the death penalty.

“Luigi Mangione’s murder of Brian Thompson — an innocent man and father of two young children — was a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an April 1, 2025, press release. “After careful consideration, I have directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in this case as we carry out President Trump’s agenda to stop violent crime and Make America Safe Again.”

Mangione’s legal team and supporters argue that the case represents an abuse of prosecutorial power. In previous statements, the December 4 Legal Committee has described the charges as “an insult to the American people” and accused prosecutors of working on behalf of corporate elites.

In a May press release celebrating the fund passing the $1 million mark on Mangione’s 27th birthday, a committee presser noted, “Even in a worsening economy, everyday people facing financial hardships of their own continue to provide monetary support for Mr. Mangione.”

Mangione has reportedly received a flood of letters and photos from supporters while held without bail in a federal detention facility in Brooklyn.