Within months, the veteran political operative had collected more than a million dollars for his work, signaling the return of one of Washington’s most controversial influence peddlers to the trade he helped pioneer.
Stone, a longtime confidant of the president, has reported earning $2.7 million from lobbying the current administration, according to congressional records. Nearly half of that sum, $1.2 million, came in the first three months of 2026 alone. His one-man firm, Drake Ventures, has attracted a diverse roster of clients ranging from Native American tribes to rare earth mineral suppliers and a MAGA House candidate.
The resurgence of Stone’s lobbying career reflects the political reality that access to the Oval Office commands a premium in Trump’s Washington. With the president’s willingness to entertain corporate interests well established, clients are paying top dollar for a lobbyist whose relationship with Trump few others can match.
Stone’s former business partner, Paul Manafort, said the demand is no surprise. “He’s a public figure, people know who he is, people know who he knows,” Manafort said of Stone’s lobbying work. “Companies I’m sure are attracted to his abilities to figure out strategy and come up with ways to solve problems.”
Stone helped invent Washington’s modern influence industry in the 1980s, and his return to the business marks a full-circle moment for a figure who has long blurred the lines between politics, consulting and advocacy. His current income stream comes from a small group of deep-pocketed clients willing to pay for a direct line to the president.
A Return to Familiar Ground
“His career is one where he’s been very successful in marrying politics and government and issues,” Manafort added. “His experience is significant beyond many people in Washington given the length of his career.” Stone and others with close ties to Trump have not hesitated to capitalize on those relationships since the president’s reelection, a dynamic that has reshaped the lobbying landscape.
For Stone, the financial rewards have been swift. His earnings so far in the second Trump administration already exceed what many veteran lobbyists make in a full election cycle, underscoring the value placed on personal access in the current political environment.
