Nike’s founder, a Walmart heiress, and the owner of the Dallas Cowboys are among the billionaires bankrolling March Madness Sweet 16 schools

• More than a dozen billionaires Makes major donations of colleges hosting country basketball programs. Among them is Nike’s advocate, a Walmart Heiress, and the owner of Dallas Cowboys. Many powerhouse teams are traded with billionaires preferred to win the first marching mad at the beginning of Thursday.

Considering sports industry in sports Estimated amounts $ 2 trillionAmerica’s odd Ultrawealthy is not eager to throw money to the state of the state program of athletics in the country.

There is a healthy list of more than a dozen billionaires that changes schools in this year’s madess tournament. Some of these long-handed people are home names, while others turn away their fortunes from the spotlight.

Some of the most recognizable names that make major donations of marching sitrehi in mindness include Nike Counder Walton Laurie, and Dallas Cowboys own Jerry Jones. This trio only costs $ 62.2 billion.

But there is more than a dozen CEOs in high-profile investing in large ducks in March Madness Schools, because they have a team geographical relations or family. And it pays with a strong basketball team. In the Fistral 2023, the NCAA reported a record $ 1.29 billion In earnings – generally from survivor-and-advance March audible tournament. In addition, the tournament Expected to awdard hundreds of millions of dollars of participation in schools.

wealth A sampling of the billionaire donors in schools participated in the March Madness Tournament this year. Remember, this list is not heavy.

Phil Knight

knight Once a college athlete himself – a runner of the University of Oregon tracks in the 1950s as he obtained his bachelor degree in accounting. The 87-year-old Nike Founder shared his $ 33.5 billion fortune With his Alma Mater, making many donations in years of academic programs and athletic programs. To all, his oregon donations are worth more than $ 1 billion.

Knight is made Two separates $ 500 million donations In Oregon for academic sciences and in 2007 he and his wife notifies a $ 100 million gift To find the Athletics Legacy Fund to help support all university athletic programs.

Oregon will face Liberty University on Friday at 10:10 pm EST and favored to win.

Nancy Walton Laurie

Walton Laurie is a family heir who creates Walmart, the largest retailer in the world with more than $ 680 billion in fiscal 2025 income. Outside the Walton family, his personal net value is currently estimated by $ 12.5 billion.

Walton Laurie, the youngest daughter of Walmart Cofounder Bud Walton, donated $ 25 million With her husband Bill Laurie in 2001 for a new basketball arena at the University of Missouri. The arena was originally named Paige Sports Arna after their daughter.

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

Jerry Jones

This University of Arkansas Alum played for the football team razors in the 1960s and continued to become a successful oil trader and the long Dallas Cowboys owner. Football dynasty today is worth about $ 10 billion. The current estimated net net More than $ 16 billion.

In 2015, Jones donated $ 10.65 million In Arkansas athlete’s program, he credited for his business success.

“I am not where I am now without life lessons learned as a student athlete at the University of Arkansas,” Jones said in a statement.

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

Larry Ellison

Eldison Fixing Gator of Tech Giant Oracle And now is the current richest person in the world with a Net worth of $ 172 billion.

He is also IS reported Helped the University of Michigan Fund a name, image, and poach of the poach’s wing of Poach Quarterback Bryce Universic Universalo in Michigan on November 2024.

While Ellison, 80, no first connection to Wolverines, his 33-year-old wife, Jolina michigan alum.

Wolverines play UC San Diego at 10pm Thursday and favored to win.

Daniel Gilbert

GILBERT The AFOUND ABOUT BEHEMOTH Rocket companieswith current market caps for about $ 30 billion. He is worth Estimated $ 31.3 billionthat makes him 57th richest man in the world today. Gilbert also owns NBA clevelands.

she donated to $ 15 million In Michigan State University in 2016 available in school basketball program. He and his wife Jennifer, attended Michigan State, and said it was time when school had a lot of paper in our lives. “

The state of Michigan is facing against Bryant University on Friday at 10pm EST. Michigan State Spartan is expected to win.

This story originally shown Fortune.com

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