Clinton team considered Michael Bloomberg, Tim Cook, Bill Gates for VP pick

Michael Bloomberg appears on stage at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa., after the VP spoke on the third day of the Democratic National Convention, July 27, 2016.

Tom Williams | CQ Roll Call | Getty Images

Before deciding on Sen. Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton's team initially considered Michael Bloomberg, Howard Schultz, Tim Cook and Bill and Melinda Gates for a running mate, leaked emails revealed.

A document posted online by WikiLeaks appeared to show a March email in which campaign chairman John Podesta offered a wide list of potential vice presidential picks, also including a retired Navy admiral and Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Podesta, noting that he and a small group had done a "first cut of people," offered the list organized "in rough food groups."

Bloomberg, who founded Bloomberg LP and is a former New York City mayor, spoke at the Democratic National Convention in July in support of Clinton.

The groups apparently organized by Podesta included Hispanic male officials, female officials, white male officials, black male officials, retired military officials, private sector leaders — and Sanders.

Although many of the political names on the list were unsurprising, the private sector options may offer some insight into the campaign. In addition to Bloomberg, Cook, Schultz and the Gateses, those names were:

• General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra
• Xerox Chairman and CEO Ursula Burns
  
• Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent
  
• Rockefeller Foundation President Judith Rodin

Disclosure: Judith Rodin serves on the board of directors of Comcast, parent company of CNBC.