Rebekah Mercer (often spelled Rebecca) is the daughter of hedge fund executive Robert Mercer, co-founder of Renaissance Technologies, and his wife Diana Mercer. She is the Director of the Mercer Family Foundation and a major conservative political donor. Prior to her involvement in politics and philanthropy, she owned and operated Ruby et Violette, a gourmet cupcake bakery in New York City's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood during the early 2010s. Mercer emerged as a significant advisor to Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign and was appointed to the executive committee of his presidential transition team. The Mercer family, through foundations and direct contributions, has donated tens of millions to conservative organizations, think tanks, and political action committees, including support for Breitbart News via Steve Bannon and investments in data analytics firms like Cambridge Analytica led by her father. Criticized for funding climate change denial groups and right-wing media, Mercer's influence extends to shaping Republican strategy and media ecosystems. She has maintained a low public profile despite her family's high-impact donations.