Ron DeSantis blew through $160 million, including $3.3 million on private jets in one of most expensive ever Republican campaigns

Ron DeSantis dropped out of the Republican presidential race after just one contest — but not before his campaign and supporters blew through $160 million.

Some of the big ticket spending in one of the most expensive GOP campaigns in history included millions on everything from luxury travel to security to political strategy to fundraising and communications. 

The DeSantis campaign and its supporting super PAC Never Back Down spent a combined more than $3 million on private airfare alone.

In total, roughly $28 million was spent directly by the DeSantis campaign while another $130 million was spent by the Never Back Down super PAC, according to paperwork filed Wednesday with the Federal Election Commission.

DeSantis dropped out of the Republican primary race in a video posted on Twitter less than 48 hours before voters started casting ballots in the New Hampshire primary

In January, DeSantis finished a distant second at the Iowa caucuses with just over 23,000 votes and 21 percent behind former President Trump who received 51 percent and more than 56,000 votes.

DeSantis spent roughly $35 million on ads in Iowa alone before his disappointing finish. 

Tracking by AdImpact estimated it cost the Florida governor roughly $1,500 in ad spending per vote in the first in the nation caucus state.

DeSantis dropped out of the presidential race just days before the New Hampshire primary and endorsed Trump, stating he no longer had a 'clear path to victory.' 

He had spent roughly $8 million on advertising in the Granite state before calling it quits.

Casey and Ron DeSantis embrace during a caucus night party on Monday, January 15 in West Des Moines, Iowa after the governor's second place finish in the first primary contest state

Never Back Down super PAC spent $130 million in support of Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential primary, FEC records show

DeSantis is not the first Republican to head into a presidential primary with high expectations and big donors lining up to back him, only to finish spectacularly short in a primary campaign against Trump.

In 2016, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s campaign and supporting super PAC spent about $150 million before the man once seen as the future of the GOP exited the race. Bush, however, made it through several contests when he bowed out after a disappointing finish in the South Carolina primary. 

Before dropping out of the race in November and endorsing Trump, Senator Tim Scott's campaign spent more than $30 million on his presidential bid, and a supporting super PAC dropped more than $21 million. 

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum who loaned his campaign nearly $15 million throughout his barely six months in the race and spent nearly $17 million with a polling average of less than 1%.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy loaned his failed presidential campaign more than $23.7 million, according to FEC filings. The campaign spent some $35 million.

The Republican primary race, once a crowded field, now stands between Trump and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley heading into the South Carolina primary on February 24.

Donald Trump takes the stage at a caucus night party in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 15, 2024

Haley campaigns in her home state of South Carolina on January 24, 2024 after finishing second behind Trump in the New Hampshire primary

Haley's campaign brought in $17 million in the final quarter of 2023 and had more than $14 million cash on hand at the end of the year. The outside SFA Fund which supports Haley's campaign brought in more than $50 million in the second half of 2023.

But it might not make any difference as Trump surges toward the presidential nomination with wins in Iowa and New Hampshire. 

The latest poll out of South Carolina on Thursday from Monmouth University shows Trump more than 20 points ahead in the two person race 58 percent to 32 percent.