Revealed: The US Presidential candidates who have raised the most money

It is estimated that the 2016 race will spend a total of $5bn

Jeb Bush has raised more than $133m (AP)

It is a ritual of every presidential campaign cycle, as embedded as the advance-renting of hotel rooms in Iowa, or securing campaign workers in New Hampshire.

At some point, one organisation or the other, announces that the combining election will be see more spending that any that went before it. When you think about it, it is not that surprising,

but it allows headline writers to declare with relish: “US election to be most expensive in history”.

(Statista)

The 2016 election is no different. As far back in January is was estimated that the campaigns could spend as much as $5bn - more than double the 2012 campaign’s price tag.

The reasons for this are well known. Despite repeated, populist calls to “keep money out of politics”, an entire industry has built up to spend the money raised by the candidates and their various associated groups during the exhausting, bewitching and sometimes farcical circus that is a US eleection campaign. From advisers, to advertisers, to hoteliers and private jet rental companies, everyone looks forward to the bonanza.

There have been moves to limit campaign finance spending, but such efforts have always run into opposition from various interests.

And in 2010, in a case known as Citizens United v FEC, the Supreme Court decided that the First Amendment of the US Constitution - which guarantees freedom of expression - provided for business and corporations to donate as much as they wished to the groups backing political candidates.

The latest data collated by Statista shows who has so far raised the most in this current campaign. by both the candidate and their associated Political Action Campaigns, or PACs.

The figures put former Florida Governor Jeb Bush in first place with $133m, Hillary Clinton is second-placed with $97m, followed by Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Bernie Sanders.

The emergence of Mr Bush as the man who has raised the most is little surprise; he has long had the support of the Republican establishment and donors with deep pockets. By contrast, Donald Trump has raised just $5m because he says he paying for the campaign out of his personal wealth.

Martin O'Malley, a former Maryland governor who is one of three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, has raised the least money - just $3.6m.