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Paradise Papers: The Influencers

The Paradise Papers leak details the offshore activities of 13 advisers, donors and members of President Donald J. Trump’s administration, including Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’s interests in a shipping company that makes millions of dollars from an energy firm whose owners include Russian President Vladimir Putin’s son-in-law and a sanctioned Russian tycoon.

President Donald Trump vowed to fight the power of global elites and told voters he would put “America First.” But surrounding Trump are a number of close associates who have used offshore tax havens to conduct business.

There is nothing illegal about doing business offshore, but the offshore industry’s role in allowing tax avoidance and financial secrecy has generated significant public interest.

Each of these Influencers, featured in this interactive graphic created by ICIJ’s journalists, artist Rocco Fazzari and Alvaro Ortiz’s Populate firm, has appeared in the leaked Paradise Papers files, either personally or through a related company. 

The Pulitzer Center partnered with ICIJ to fund this interactive and an animated video explainer on how the offshore accounts are used to shield profits from taxation. The Center is also working with ICIJ on educational curricular materials to take this important project out to our network of schools and universities.

See the full Paradise Papers series from ICIJ.