Ohio gubernatorial candidate and Indian-American politician Vivek Ramaswamy spent nearly $12,000 in campaign funds on a luxury trip to Puerto Rico, according to campaign finance documents and reporting from MeidasTouch, a progressive political media organization in the US.Records show that in November 2025, Ramaswamy’s campaign paid $11,898.25 to the Dorado Beach Ritz-Carlton Reserve, one of Puerto Rico’s most luxurious resorts, citing the purpose of “travel.” A one-bedroom suite at the resort can cost up to $5,820 per night and offers high-end accommodations, private dining, a golf course, a five-acre spa, and other sports facilities.Ramaswamy is a billionaire whose net worth is estimated at $2.2 billion by Forbes. He visited the island ahead of the ITServe Alliance Synergy Annual Conference to be held in December 2025. He was to deliver the keynote speech at the event, advocating for changes to H-1B visa policies, including raising the annual limit and relaxing restrictions. The group also engages in lobbying and legal challenges related to US immigration policy.Reports indicate that Ramaswami withdrew from the conference shortly before it began after receiving online criticism from some conservative commentators over the organization’s position on H-1B visas. H‑1B visas are U.S. work permits that allow companies to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations requiring highly specialized knowledge or skills.During the trip, Ramaswamy posted on social media showing him playing pickleball at the resort with internet celebrities and YouTubers Logan Paul and Jake Paul. The resort includes a sports hub where guests can access courts for recreational activities.Ramaswamy’s planned convention, his return and his leisure activities as well as luxury travel have raised questions over how campaign funds were used. A campaign spokesperson told Signal Ohio that Ramaswami “planned to remain in Puerto Rico regardless of the convention.” Additionally, Ramaswamy founded the biotech company Roivant Sciences in 2014, which bought an Alzheimer’s drug that had previously failed in clinical trials and took it public in 2015, raising hundreds of millions of dollars. The stock subsequently fell, causing huge losses to many investors even though Ramaswamy had already made profits by selling the shares.
