A single phone call changed everything for Kansas Athletics. David Booth just delivered $300 million to the University of Kansas, creating one of the largest single gifts in college sports history. The number staggers even seasoned donors. This isn’t just philanthropy. It’s a complete transformation of collegiate athletics.
Days before kickoff against Fresno State, Kansas administrators received news that would reshape their entire program. The donation dwarfs typical athletic gifts. Booth’s unprecedented generosity sends shockwaves through college sports. Every athletic director in America now studies this moment.
The Billionaire Game-Changer: David Booth’s Record-Breaking $300 Million Gift to KU Athletics
Who exactly wields this kind of transformative power? David Gilbert Booth represents the ultimate success story of academic investing meeting passionate alumni loyalty. His journey from Kansas economics student to billionaire investment pioneer reads like a masterclass in building wealth through rigorous research. The founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors now manages $853 billion in assets. Yet his heart remains firmly planted in Lawrence, Kansas.
The money flows strategically into multiple channels. Seventy-five million dollars targets the Gateway District’s next phase and stadium renovations. The remaining funds create sustainable revenue streams for KU Athletics programs. More than half supports “the most impactful aspects” of college sports, including revenue-sharing initiatives. This approach revolutionizes how universities fund athletics.
NEWS: Kansas has received an unprecedented $300 million gift from donor David Booth, believed to be among the largest single gifts in the history of college athletics, KU officials tell @max_olson and me. pic.twitter.com/L9SQAxsWtr
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 13, 2025
Booth’s connection to Kansas runs deeper than typical alumni relationships. Born in Lawrence on December 2, 1946, he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from KU before pursuing his MBA at the University of Chicago. There, he worked alongside Nobel Prize-winning economist Eugene Fama, shaping his investment philosophy forever. In 1981, he co-founded Dimensional Fund Advisors from a Brooklyn apartment, building it into a global powerhouse through data-driven, research-backed investing.
This latest gift builds upon Booth’s established philanthropic legacy at Kansas. He previously donated $50 million in 2017 for stadium renovations, earning naming rights to the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. His contributions funded the Booth Family Hall of Athletics and helped acquire James Naismith’s original basketball rules. The University of Chicago also bears his name on its business school following his $300 million gift there in 2008. His philosophy remains consistent: invest in education, athletics, and long-term institutional excellence through rigorous research and unwavering commitment to his alma mater.
