Former MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell has lost Minnesota’s Republican gubernatorial primary, handing President Donald Trump one of his biggest endorsement defeats of the 2026 election cycle. Lindell was defeated by Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, despite receiving Trump’s endorsement.
The decisive details
Lindell is one of Trump’s closest political allies and a prominent supporter of his false claims about the 2020 presidential election. Celebrity Net Worth estimated that Lindell’s personal fortune once exceeded $100 million and may have reached between $200 million and $300 million. However, the website now estimates his net worth at approximately $0. They cited legal expenses, declining sales, and the financial fallout from his 2020 election activism. During a 2023 interview with CBS Minnesota , he said his support for Trump and his efforts to challenge the 2020 election results caused MyPillow to lose more than $100 million in retail business.
Due to Lindell’s widespread recognition and backing from MAGA voters, predictions were made that saw him as an early front-runner. At its peak, MyPillow generated hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue.
“When I tried to get this out to the people, MyPillow lost $100 million in retailers,” Lindell said. “I’ve had to borrow money.”
Evidence and Data
He reportedly also spent millions defending himself in multiple defamation lawsuits. Several major retailers like Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond and Kohl’s stopped carrying MyPillow products following Lindell’s repeated false claims about the 2020 election, according to CBS. Lindell’s political career started after he met Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. He later became a frequent visitor to the White House and played a prominent role in Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign.
The president called him someone who “deserves to be governor of Minnesota” and praised him for standing by his election claims despite mounting legal and financial problems.
Trump strongly backed Lindell’s gubernatorial campaign earlier this year.
