CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) â Republican political donor, investor and philanthropist Foster Friess died Thursday. He was 81. A multimillionaire who lived in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Friess was a GOP kingmaker who donated lavishly to candidates and charitable causes over four decades. Friess directly gave almost $7 million to hundreds of candidates since the early 1980s, federal campaign finance records show, and was perhaps best known for supporting former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorumâs presidential run in 2012. âFoster was just larger than life. He filled up the room when he came in,â Santorum said. âAnd when he left the room, you felt somehow impacted.â