Billionaire George Soros has financial ties to at least 253 media organizations worldwide, helping him to mold public opinion and insulate himself from criticism, a new study by a conservative US watchdog group has found.

The 92-year-old, America’s biggest donor to Democratic political candidates and liberal causes, has built connections with press outlets and activist media organizations by bankrolling them through his not-for-profit groups, the Media Research Center (MRC) reported on Tuesday. The recipients of Soros’ money reach readers, viewers and listeners in virtually every corner of the world and in many languages.

“Soros once told the New York Times that he was working to bend the arc of history in the right direction,” the MRC said. “He means it.”

Tuesday’s report was the first in a three-part series that will reveal the extent of the media influence that Soros wields.