Billionaire Jim Simons donates record-breaking $500 million to Stony Brook University.
Former math professor and billionaire hedge funder James Simons has donated $500 million to Stony Brook University, making it the largest unrestricted donation to a college in US history. The donation is expected to grow by up to $1 billion in contributions for Stony Brook University’s endowment, thanks to New York State’s public matching program for donations. Simons has steadily contributed to Stony Brook, including a record $60 million donation in 2008. The founder of Renaissance Technologies investment firm credited his time at Stony Brook with honing his skills.