15 of the most surprising companies that the Small Business Administration listed as paycheck protection loan recipients

The program, meant to protect small businesses, also doled out money to billionaire-backed corporations like TGI Fridays and t hechic members-only club Soho House.
Other names that appeared in the SBA's disclosure included Kanye West's Yeezy brand, 30 Girl Scouts of America chapters, multiple Catholic archdioceses, and the businesses of people close to President Donald Trump.
Multiple companies listed in the filings, like e-scooter company Bird and famed venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, said they did not receive loans, calling the accuracy of the SBA dataset into question.
Business Insider rounded up some of the most surprising organizations to appear in the dataset.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

Andreessen Horowitz, a legendary Silicon Valley venture-capital firm, received between $350,000 and $1 million for 24 jobs, according to the filing, but a spokesperson told Business Insider it did not receive a loan.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Source: Business Insider

Similarly, the filings listed e-scooter company Bird as having received between $5 and $10 million to retain 341 jobs, but the company told Business Insider it never completed an application and was "erroneously listed" in the SBA's data.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Source: Business Insider

Burning Man, the iconic 'commerce-free' festival, received between $2 and $5 million for an undisclosed number of jobs, according to the filing. A representative did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Source: Business Insider, Business Insider

The Ayn Rand Institute, a center dedicated to promoting Rand's well-known brand of hardcore capitalism, was approved for a loan of up to $1 million to secure 35 jobs. A spokesperson for the institute confirmed the loan in an email to Business Insider.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Don Tormey/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Source: Reuters

The Americans for Tax Reform Foundation, an arm of Grover Norquist's anti-government spending group, is listed to have been approved for a loan between $150,000 and $300,000. A representative confirmed the loan in an email to Business Insider.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Source: Slate, Americans for Tax Reform

Kanye West's Yeezy sneaker brand received between $2 million and $5 million to save 160 jobs, according to the filing. A representative for Yeezy did not immediately respond to request for comment.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Source: CBS News

The Archdiocese of New York reportedly received between $5 and $10 million to support nearly 462 jobs, while other archdioceses, like those in Miami and Denver received between $1 and $2 million. A representative for the archdiocese did not immediately reply to request for comment.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Source: CNBC, Washington Post

The Joseph Kushner Hebrew Day Academy, a school named after Trump advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner's grandfather, reportedly received a loan between $1 and $2 million. The school did not immediately respond to request for comment. Other Kushner family interests also received loans.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Source: NBC, Business Insider

Foremost Group, a shipping business owned by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao's family, received between $350,000 and $1 million, according to the filing. A company source told Business Insider the accepted loan was less than $500,000.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Source: MarketWatch

PF Chang's, a popular chain backed by private equity firm TriArtisan Capital Advisors, was reportedly approved for a loan between $5 million and $10 million. A spokesperson for PF Chang's told Business Insider the PPP loan secured 12,000 jobs in a statement.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Source: NBC

TGI Fridays, which is backed by the same firm as PF Chang's, also received a loan between $5 million and $10 million, according to filings. A representative did not respond to request for comment.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Source: Associated Press

Nobu, the luxury sushi and hotel chain founded by actor Robert De Niro and celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa, reportedly received between $11 million and $28 million, according to government filings. Nobu did not respond to a request for comment.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Source: CNBC , Business Insider

The national Girl Scouts of America received a loan between $5 and $10 million, the organization confirmed in an email to Business Insider. More than 30 Girls Scout chapters nationwide also received PPP loans, the national organization also confirmed, with chapters like the Girl Scouts of Northern California receiving between $2 and $5 million and the Girl Scouts of Colorado, Connecticut, and Illinois each receiving between $1 and $2 million.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Source: Associated Press , Washington Post

Soho House, the billionaire-backed private members-only club, reportedly received six different loans between $350,000 and $10 million for its Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and New York locations, saving 1,996 jobs. It confirmed its PPP loan to Bloomberg.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Source: Business Insider, Bloomberg

Jeff Koons, the pop art sculptor known for giant balloon animals among other concepts, reportedly received $1 to $2 million for his studio. The studio did not immediately return a request for comment.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Source: Associated Press

15 of the most surprising companies that the Small Business Administration listed as paycheck protection loan recipients

Andreessen Horowitz, a legendary Silicon Valley venture-capital firm, received between $350,000 and $1 million for 24 jobs, according to the filing, but a spokesperson told Business Insider it did not receive a loan.

Similarly, the filings listed e-scooter company Bird as having received between $5 and $10 million to retain 341 jobs, but the company told Business Insider it never completed an application and was "erroneously listed" in the SBA's data.

Burning Man, the iconic 'commerce-free' festival, received between $2 and $5 million for an undisclosed number of jobs, according to the filing. A representative did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

The Ayn Rand Institute, a center dedicated to promoting Rand's well-known brand of hardcore capitalism, was approved for a loan of up to $1 million to secure 35 jobs. A spokesperson for the institute confirmed the loan in an email to Business Insider.

The Americans for Tax Reform Foundation, an arm of Grover Norquist's anti-government spending group, is listed to have been approved for a loan between $150,000 and $300,000. A representative confirmed the loan in an email to Business Insider.

Kanye West's Yeezy sneaker brand received between $2 million and $5 million to save 160 jobs, according to the filing. A representative for Yeezy did not immediately respond to request for comment.

The Archdiocese of New York reportedly received between $5 and $10 million to support nearly 462 jobs, while other archdioceses, like those in Miami and Denver received between $1 and $2 million. A representative for the archdiocese did not immediately reply to request for comment.

The Joseph Kushner Hebrew Day Academy, a school named after Trump advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner's grandfather, reportedly received a loan between $1 and $2 million. The school did not immediately respond to request for comment. Other Kushner family interests also received loans.

Foremost Group, a shipping business owned by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao's family, received between $350,000 and $1 million, according to the filing. A company source told Business Insider the accepted loan was less than $500,000.

PF Chang's, a popular chain backed by private equity firm TriArtisan Capital Advisors, was reportedly approved for a loan between $5 million and $10 million. A spokesperson for PF Chang's told Business Insider the PPP loan secured 12,000 jobs in a statement.

TGI Fridays, which is backed by the same firm as PF Chang's, also received a loan between $5 million and $10 million, according to filings. A representative did not respond to request for comment.

Nobu, the luxury sushi and hotel chain founded by actor Robert De Niro and celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa, reportedly received between $11 million and $28 million, according to government filings. Nobu did not respond to a request for comment.

Soho House, the billionaire-backed private members-only club, reportedly received six different loans between $350,000 and $10 million for its Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and New York locations, saving 1,996 jobs. It confirmed its PPP loan to Bloomberg.

Jeff Koons, the pop art sculptor known for giant balloon animals among other concepts, reportedly received $1 to $2 million for his studio. The studio did not immediately return a request for comment.

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Recommended articles

10 least powerful African passports in 2024

Top 10 African countries with the largest labor force

Video footage of Asian man beating two Africans sparks racism comments online

East Africa’s future in energy shines brighter on the continent

Infinix NOTE 40 Series takes centre stage with all-round fastcharge 2.0

Here are the new causes of Nigeria’s inflation according to the CBN governor

Russian troops have entered base housing US military forces in Niger

Digitalisation: A revolution in financial services

Most valuable airline loyalty programs in Africa