Ken Griffin pledges $3 billion to Carnegie Mellon University
Citadel CEO Ken Griffin has pledged $3 billion to Carnegie Mellon University, marking the largest individual gift in higher education history. The donation includes $2 billion to establish a new campus in Miami, reflecting Griffin's ongoing investment in the city.
Why it matters
This historic donation highlights the growing trend of private wealth influencing higher education expansion and the increasing economic prominence of Miami as a tech and education hub.
Citadel CEO Ken Griffin announced Wednesday that he has committed $3 billion to Carnegie Mellon University, including $2 billion in funding to establish a new Miami campus.
The $3 billion pledge is the "largest individual gift in higher education history," according to a statement from the university, which called the gift "historic." The previous record was a $2 billion gift by Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife Penny to Oregon Health & Science University in August 2025.
Griffin, who is worth $57.5 billion by Bloomberg's estimate , will join Carnegie Mellon's board of trustees.
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