Nike founder, heiress Walmart -Ai owner Dallas are among billionaires who bankrupt March madness Sweet 16 schools

• More than a dozen billionaires They gave great donations to the faculties hosting national elite basketball programs. Among them are Nike’s founder, and Walmart Heir and owner of the Dallas Cowboy. Several Powerhouse teams that have been bankrupt from a billionaire are favored to win the first round of March Madness, which started on Thursday.

Given that the industry is a sports party It is estimated to be worth $ 2 trillionIt is not surprising that American Ultrawealth are eager to throw money on national athlete in college.

There are a healthy list of more than a dozen billionaires who bankrupt schools at this year’s March Madness tournament. Some of these individuals of high net values ​​are the names of households, while others have collected their wealth beyond the reflector.

Some of the most recognizable names that give the main donations to the March Madness schools include Nike founder Phil Knight, Walmart, heed Nancy Walton Laurie and owner of Dallas Cowboys Jerry Jones. This trio is worth a huge $ 62.2 billion.

But there are more than a dozen other excellent executive directors and executives who have invested a big dollar in March Madness schools, whether they are their Alma Mater or have a geographical or family relationship with the team. And it pays to have a strong basketball team. In a fiscal 2023, NCAA reported a record $ 1.29 billion In the income-headed by the survival tournament and Advance March Madness. Besides, the tournament is expected to assign hundreds of millions of dollars in the participating schools.

Wealth He compiled a pamper of a billionaire donor to the schools that participated in the March Madness tournament this year. Note, this list is not exhaustive.

Phil Knight

Knight Once upon a time, the athlete is a college – a runner in the course of the University of Oregon in the 1950s, while earning an accounting diploma. 87-year-old Founder of Nike has shared its own $ 33.5 billion wealth With his Alma Mater, giving some great donations over the years to school academic and athletic programs. All in all, his donations for Oregon were more than $ 1 billion.

Knight made Two separate donations of $ 500 million Oregon for scientific academics, and in 2007 he and his wife announced $ 100 million gift In order to find the Fund of the Athletics Legacy Fund to help support all athletic programs at the University.

Oregon will face the University of Liberty on Friday at 22:10 Est and are favored to win.

Nancy Walton Laurie

Walton Laurie is a heir to the family that created Walmart, the world’s largest seller with more than 680 billion dollars of fiscal revenue of 2025. In addition to the Walton family, her personal net value is currently estimated at $ 12.5 billion.

Walton Laurie, the youngest daughter Walmart co -founder Bud Walton, donated $ 25 million with his wife Bill Laurie 2001 for a new basketball arena at the University of Missouri. Arena is originally called Paige Sports Arena by her daughter, but she was renamed after fans because her daughter Lauries did not attend Mizzouu and the following charges she Varan in college.

Mizzou plays Drake University on Thursday at 7:35 pm and favor them to win.

Jerry Jones

This Arkansas University played for the Razorbacks football team in the 1960s and became a successful oil businessman and longtime Owner Dallas Cowboys. The football dynasty is currently worth around $ 10 billion. Jones’ current estimated net value is More than $ 16 billion.

In 2015 Jones donated $ 10.65 million Arkansas’ athletic program, who deserved for his success in business.

“I would not be where I am today without those life lessons learned as a student-sports student at the University of Arkansas,” Jones said at that time in that statement.

Arkansas will play Kansas Jayhawks on Thursday at 7:10 pm EST. Kansas is expected to beat Arkansas.

Larry Ellison

Elison faced Technical giant Oracle and currently the fifth is the most virtuous man in the world with net value of $ 172 billion.

He also allegedly He helped the University of Michigan to finance the name, painting and similar sports package to weld Bryce Underwood from the Louisian State University in Michigan in November 2024 in November 2024.

While Ellison, 80, had no previous relationship with Wolverines, his 33-year-old wife, Shoutingis alum in Michigan.

Wolverines play UC San Diego on Thursday at 10:00 pm and they favor them to win.

Daniel Gilbert

Gilbert faced mortgage behemoth Rocket companieswhich has a current market limit of nearly $ 30 billion. Worth it estimated $ 31.3 billionmaking it today 57. The weakest man in the world. Gilbert also owns NBA Cleveland Cavaliers.

He donated $ 15 million to the Michigan State University of 2016 to use for the school basketball program. Both he and his wife Jennifer attended the state of Michigan and said that at the time the school “played a big role in both lives”.

Michigan State faces Bryant University on Friday at 10:00 pm. The Spartans are expected to win.

This story is originally shown on Fortune.com

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