Clooney's Obama Fundraiser Brings in Nearly $15 Million

UPDATE: The Obama campaign has remained mum on the exact dollar figure brought in during Thursday night's Hollywood fundraiser, but early reports suggest a number in the $14-$15 million range, a total that would make it the highest-grossing single-event campaign haul ever.

Sources tell both Politico and the Los Angeles Times that the event at George Clooney's house brought in at least $14 million, with the true number probably closer to $15 million. Tickets to the roughly 150-person event went for $40,000 a pop, which brings us to $6 million. The remainder was raised by an online raffle for tickets to the star-studded gala.

The LAT with the raffle details:

The Obama campaign held a contest for supporters across the nation, asking for donations of as little as $3 for a chance to win airfare to Los Angeles and a spot at the dinner. The contest proved wildly successful — tens of thousands of people contributed an average of $23, with their donations making up two-thirds of the $15-million haul. The winners were Beth Topinka, a science teacher from Manalapan, N.J., and Karen Blutcher, a utility company worker from St. Augustine, Fla. Both women brought their husbands.

Thursday, May 10: While President Obama's decision to publicly back gay marriage may yet cause him trouble in the polls, it doesn't appear to be hurting his campaign bank account in the slightest.

BuzzFeed reports that his reelection effort received $1 million in spontaneous contribution within 90 minutes of Wednesday's announcement. And the campaign cash is expected to keep rolling in Thursday evening, when President Obama attends what can safely be called a star-studded fundraising dinner in Los Angeles. The host? One George Timothy Clooney.

The Long Beach Press-Telegram reports that the 150-person guest list includes the likes of Barbra Streisand, Robert Downey Jr., and Tobey Maguire. With tickets reportedly going for $40,000 a pop, the conservative estimate of the total haul is $6 million. But some local organizers are speculating that once the money from an online raffle for seats at Obama and Clooney's table are counted, the night's fundraising total could be closer to $15 million.

While Team Obama likely won't release the exact total, the Hollywood Reporter predicts the event will likely break the previous one-night fundraising record, when a 2008 dinner at L.A.’s Greystone Mansion featuring a Streisand concert brought in $11 million.

Obama is also scheduled to hit up two fundraisers in Seattle before Clooney's event, one of which will feature a performance by Dave Matthews, according to Reuters. All proceeds are to go to the Obama campaign and the Democratic party.