Politicians
This President of the United States leveraged his family's New York real-estate empire into a personal brand of luxury hotels, golf courses, and TV fame before entering politics.
Who is Donald Trump?
With an endowment of $56.9 billion, this Ivy League institution is the wealthiest university in America.
What is Harvard University?
This foundation, which recently changed its name following the founding couple’s divorce and a co-chair's resignation, has by far the largest endowment on this list at $77.2 billion. It has been both lauded and criticized for its outsized role in global health and domestic education policy.
What is the Gates Foundation?
This historic duo of the NHL and MLB teams belongs to the famous Detroit Illitch family, whose fortune stems from the Little Caesars empire and a broad portfolio of real estate developments. Their political presence includes involvement in Detroit's revitalization through financial support for urban development and commercial revitalization.
Who are the Detroit Red Wings/Detroit Tigers?
This billionaire bought Twitter in 2022, is a major donor to Donald Trump, and is fixated on the letter X.
Who is Elon Musk?
This political dynasty, whose fortune began with patriarch Joseph’s investments in real estate, liquor importing, and Wall Street, produced a president, two senators, and generations of public officials.
Who are the Kennedys?
With a $21.2 billion endowment in 2025, this Big Ten school ranks 9th nationally and 3rd among public universities.
What is the University of Michigan?
Created in 1936 by the founder of an automobile company and his son to avoid a 70% inheritance tax proposed by FDR, this foundation currently has an endowment of $16.8 billion.
What is the Ford
Foundation?
The owner of this southern NFL team, Jerry Jones, made his fortune in the oil and gas industry and is also known for his fossil-fuel lobbying and for a national donor network that supports non-renewable energy in the southern U.S.
What is the Dallas Cowboys?
This billionaire founded Microsoft in 1975, but is now more well known for his charitable donations, especially in the areas of public health and education.
Who is Bill Gates?
This U.S. senator from Utah and two-time presidential candidate, is the son of an auto executive who saved the American Motors Corporation from bankruptcy and earned a fortune.
Who is Mitt Romney?
This real estate billionaire is the University of Michigan’s largest-ever donor with $328 million in lifetime giving.
Who is Stephen M. Ross?
This foundation — which owes it existence to Standard Oil — voted to divest from fossil fuels in 2020. Focused today on advancing energy, food, health, and innovation, its controversial past includes supporting eugenics research as late as the 1950s.
What is the Rockefeller Foundation?
This NFL franchise is owned by a real estate magnate whose empire is closely linked to the University of Michigan and elite donor networks. His substantial philanthropic contributions have led to his name being on a renowned business school.
Who are the Miami Dolphins
This billionaire is the co-founder of the tech company Oracle, recently hired the former UM President Santa Ono, and is a major NIL donor to UM football.
Who is Larry Ellison?
This billionaire, who is the current Governor of Illinois, has another billionaire sibling who was a former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, both heirs to the Hyatt Hotel fortune and major figures in the Democratic Party.
Who is J.B. Pritzker?
At nearly $47.5 billion, this public university system has the largest endowment among public institutions.
What is the University of Texas?
This foundation was founded on the 25th anniversary of the family’s well-known business. Its comparatively small $5.71 billion endowment is invested in environmental and educational causes, as well as supporting its "home region" of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta.
What is the Walton Family Foundation?
This Florida NBA team is owned by an heir of the infamous DeVos family, architects of the largest conservative donor ecosystem in the U.S., and founders of the prominent MLM, Amway. Their networks include major education reform and faith-based advocacy groups.
What is the Orlando Magic?
This man is a billionaire, although his wealth comes from his investments in tech startups rather than the ultra popular AI chatbot company he founded.
Who is Sam Altman?
Before becoming governor of Florida and later a U.S. senator, this politician built a massive personal fortune as the co-founder of the largest for-profit hospital chain in America (at the time).
Who is Rick Scott?
This philanthropist gave the most significant single gift in U.S. university history, a $1.8 billion donation to Johns Hopkins.
Who is Michael Bloomberg?
This foundation has the largest endowment of any headquartered in the state of Michigan, at $8.8 billion. Established by a breakfast cereal pioneer, its investments are primarily focused on improving health, food, and educational systems. A medical center at the University of Michigan also shares its name.
What is the W.K. Kellogg Foundation?
This NFL franchise is owned by an heir to the Walmart fortune, whose empire has long relied on corporate lobbying and business-aligned PACs.
What is the Denver Broncos
This billionaire made his money selling his VR headset technology to Facebook (Meta), and now runs a defense contractor named after a sword from The Lord of the Rings.
Who is Palmer Luckey?