Main Information
Griffin and Geffen announced the donation on Tuesday during the “Good Morning America” program, with Griffin stating in a statement that they are “honored” to support those who “contribute to the advancement of innovations in research and treatment, as well as the dedicated nurses and staff who devote their lives to providing compassionate care to those affected by this illness.”
Distribution of the Donation
Anniek Allen, a spokesperson for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Center, did not specify how the donation would be divided between the billionaires. The donation is expected to be spent in three areas, according to Allen: supporting the center’s staff of 20,000, implementing new technologies such as robotics, and building “modern facilities that enable us to provide the best possible care.”
History of Previous Donations
Griffin has donated approximately $1.6 billion to charity, including funding the rescue of 800 American citizens from Wuhan during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing $300 million to Harvard University’s College of Arts and Sciences, and $125 million to the University of Chicago’s Department of Economics (which will be named after him next year), and $125 million to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago (which will also bear his name next year). Meanwhile, Geffen’s donation history includes a pledge of $150 million to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the largest gift in the museum’s history, as well as $300 million to the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine and $100 million for the renovation of the Philharmonic home in New York at Lincoln Center, both of which now carry his name.
The Big Number
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the number of Americans suffering from cancer will increase by 50% between 2015 and 2050 due to population growth and aging.
Forbes Valuation
Griffin, who founded the alternative investment firm Citadel in 1990, has a net worth estimated at around $36.3 billion, making him the thirty-first richest person in the world to date. Geffen, founder of DreamWorks Animation and several record companies, has a net worth of $8.1 billion, making him the 290th richest person in the world. Forbes lists Griffin as one of the largest philanthropic donors in the country, focusing on education, economic mobility, and medical research.
Further Reading
For more information, you can check out the following articles:
- America’s Most Generous People of 2023: The Top 25 Philanthropists in the Country
- Billionaire Ken Griffin Condemns Harvard Group’s Message but Will Continue Donating to University Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict
- Music Industry Billionaire David Geffen Plans to Donate $75 Million to Columbia Business School
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