WIRED’s July 18, 2024 investigation reported that JD Vance’s Venmo friends list was publicly visible and contained 211 direct connections. The list included people in politics, government, media, technology and Vance’s Yale Law orbit. It offered a glimpse of possible contact networks—not proof that Vance paid, knew, endorsed or coordinated with every person listed. The reporting is a dated snapshot; it does not establish how the account is configured today.
What WIRED found on Vance’s Venmo
WIRED reported that more than 200 people appeared on Vance’s friends list and counted 211 direct connections. It said the account appeared to have been created in December 2016. The publication said it verified the account through links to his wife, Usha Vance, and people connected to the film adaptation of Hillbilly Elegy. WIRED’s investigation framed the list as noteworthy in part because it showed connections spanning wealthy and establishment institutions alongside Vance’s anti-elite public rhetoric.
People and circles in the list
Among the names WIRED reported were Amalia Halikias, a Heritage Foundation government-relations director; an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and other Justice Department lawyers; former Arizona senator Jeff Flake; conservative think-tank affiliates; journalists and media personalities Bari Weiss and Tucker Carlson; and technology executives associated with Anthropic and AOL. Halikias was associated with the organization coordinating Project 2025.
WIRED also described a wider, second-degree network averaging 277 friends per friend, with accounts sharing names with prominent political figures and far-right activists. Those extended-network matches are leads, not verified identifications or evidence of coordination.
#1 Best Overall
- ALL-IN-ONE DESIGN: Single high-visibility QR code accepts Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, and Zelle on a branded customer page
- PREMIUM CONSTRUCTION: Made from 3/8-inch thick high-impact plastic with precision-embossed text and logos, measuring 7.5" × 4" × 4"
- SMART FEATURES: Built-in business card dispenser, Venmo Code Assist for first-time payers, a secure dashboard for scan and payment tracking
- QUICK SETUP: One-minute activation process - simply scan QR code, add payment methods, business information, and customize settings
- CUSTOMIZED & HANDCRAFTED: Personalize your sign with your business name on top and custom text on the bottom — each piece is handcrafted for a professional, branded look
What a Venmo friend connection does—and does not—prove
A Venmo friend-list entry is not the same as a payment record. Venmo may ask permission to access phone contacts and can automatically populate a friends list with contacts who use the app; users can also add or remove friends. As a result, a listing alone does not establish that two people transacted, personally know one another, endorse one another, or even know Venmo designated them as friends. WIRED’s report described the list as public by default at the time, but that is not evidence of the account’s present settings. The investigation’s account of the list should therefore be read as a view of possible contact structure, not a definitive map of relationships.
Friends list and transactions are different evidence
WIRED found few of Vance’s own transactions publicly visible; the ones it saw appeared mundane, including a January payment to a staff member for doughnuts. Separately, it found more than 50 transactions on former campaign manager Jordan Wiggins’s account, including joking payment descriptions such as “Back waxing & Happy Ending” and “adult 🎥.” Wiggins made his transactions private after WIRED contacted Vance’s office. These are separate accounts and findings: Wiggins’s payment history is not evidence that Vance made those transactions.
Rank #2
- The signs are made of high quality clear acrylic and available in a range of 48 background colour shades and 2 mirror acrylic colors to fit with any theme. They are printed in full HD and not used with vinyl or acrylic paints creating a flawless finish.The signs include a matching mirror base to hold securely.A truly eye catching design!
- Dimensions of Plaque: 6.3" Wide x 8.3”High Dimensions of the mirror base:6.3" long *2" Wide The signs include 2 different QR code links with 2 matching mirror icons,and a Business Card Holder
- QR code signs makes it easy for your customers to quickly connect with you via social media, your website, or a custom landing page you've created while you're answering their questions about your services or products! These can be used at Small Business, Craft Fairs, Vendor Events, Checkouts,trade shows, markets, popups or in your shop.
- These signs can also be adapted to use for websites, social media pages, payments such as PayPal, Venmo, Cash App etc. QR code Sign Scan to Pay Tips for Bartenders, Servers, Hair Stylists, Manicurists, Make Up Artists Virtual Tip Jar. The icons include the following (please note only 2 icons can be used on this style of plaque). Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Website,Twitch, Wifi, Snapchat, Venmo, TikTok, Youtube, WhatsApp, Paypal, Cash App,Zelle etc.
- How to order -Select your preferred back shade colour and mirror colour from the drop down menus -upload your Logo with HD Image -Enter the 2 icons you’d like for use ((e.g. Instagram, Venmo and Facebook) and include your handles/ usernames and direct links to pages required.We then generate the QR code links -Please note any wording changes here also otherwise will be sent as advertised “connect with us”
| Evidence type | What it can show | What it cannot establish by itself |
|---|---|---|
| Direct friend-list entry | An account appeared among Vance’s 211 direct Venmo connections in WIRED’s 2024 analysis. | A payment, personal relationship, endorsement or coordination. |
| Visible transaction | A payment record and its visible description on the account where it appeared. | That a different person or account made the payment. |
| Second-degree connection or name match | A possible lead in the wider network for further verification. | The identity of the account holder or a meaningful relationship to Vance. |
Why public Venmo information can create a security risk
Social connections and payment details can give strangers material for stalking, trolling, impersonation or social engineering. Knowing who may be connected to someone can help an attacker craft a convincing message or impersonate a contact. CREW communications vice president Jordan Libowitz warned WIRED that public personal contacts can create “points of pressure or influence”; EFF general counsel Jennifer Lynch said access to social connections can reveal sensitive information and expose people to security risks. These are risks of exposure, not evidence that a particular attack occurred in this case.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Venmo privacy settings control
Venmo’s current privacy statement says public profile information may include a username, profile photo, first and last name, account creation month and year, and public transactions involving the user. It says this information may be seen by anyone on the internet and may be accessed, reshared or downloaded through Venmo APIs or third-party integrations. Venmo’s privacy statement describes the platform’s disclosure practices; it does not show Vance’s current account configuration.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesRank #3
- [Boost Your Reviews and Ratings] Encourage your customers to leave reviews with our Google-compatible review tap stand. The integrated NFC tap and QR code sign features help your employees guide customers to your review page.
- [Hassle-Free Setup] Activate your Google-compatible review tap stand in seconds. Scan the QR code and follow the easy steps to link your tap stand to your Google business review page.
- [Professional and Detailed Design] Our QR code stands have a smooth and detailed finish providing a sleek look that won’t fade.
- [Superior Quality and Durability] Our Google-compatible review cards and stands are durable to ensure they last without fading, erasing, or breaking.
- [Revuzee’s Value and Features] Revuzee’s Google-compatible review NFC stands come with free analytics and a customizable landing page. Create links to review sites, social media, and download your custom QR code sign to use on receipts, emails, advertising, and more.
For transactions, Venmo lists three visibility choices. Its help page says users can choose the setting for an individual transaction or set visibility for all transactions in Settings. Venmo’s transaction privacy guidance describes what each choice means:
- Public: A transaction may be visible to anyone on the internet.
- Friends: Visibility is limited to the transaction participants’ Venmo friends.
- Private: The transaction is visible only to its participants.
These transaction choices should not be mistaken for proof that a particular profile or friend list was public: the platform settings explain possible visibility, while WIRED’s report describes what it observed in 2024.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- The signs are made of high quality clear acrylic ,A truly eye catching design!
- Dimensions of Plaque: 4" Wide x 6”High
- QR code signs makes it easy for your customers to quickly connect with you via social media, your website, or a custom landing page you've created while you're answering their questions about your services or products! These can be used at Small Business, Craft Fairs, Vendor Events, Checkouts,trade shows, markets, popups or in your shop.
- These signs can also be adapted to use for websites, social media pages, payments such as PayPal, Venmo, Cash App etc. QR code Sign Scan to Pay Tips for Bartenders, Servers, Hair Stylists, Manicurists, Make Up Artists Virtual Tip Jar. The icons include the following (please note only 2 icons can be used on this style of plaque). Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Website,Twitch, Wifi, Snapchat, Venmo, TikTok, Youtube, WhatsApp, Paypal, Cash App,Zelle etc.
- How to order -Select your preferred back shade colour and mirror colour from the drop down menus -upload your Logo with HD Image -Enter the 2 icons you’d like for use ((e.g. Instagram, Venmo and Facebook) and include your handles/ usernames and direct links to pages required.We then generate the QR code links -Please note any wording changes here also otherwise will be sent as advertised “connect with us”
How to reduce what others can see
- Change transaction visibility: In Venmo, open Settings and choose a default transaction privacy setting, or change the setting for a transaction individually. The help page lists Public, Friends and Private.
- Review past transactions: Check transaction visibility as well as the default going forward; a new default does not necessarily change the setting on earlier payments.
- Review profile and friend-list exposure: Check Venmo’s current privacy controls for profile and social information separately from transaction visibility. The cited transaction help page specifies transaction controls and should not be read as a complete guide to every profile setting.
- Limit unnecessary contact access: Review whether Venmo has access to phone contacts and whether automatic friend discovery is appropriate for your privacy preferences.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
