'Ken Griffin… DONATED $2,250,000 LOL': MrBeast Team Water receives $2.25m donation after his random ask
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Such unexpected generosity didn't just boost the ambitious goal of the fundraiser but has sent shockwaves all throughout the philanthropic world and has left even the YouTube star in complete disbelief.
How did MrBeast secure a $2.5 million donation from Ken Griffin?
The entire incident dates back to Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast and his fellow creator Mark Rober, the ex-NASA engineer's appearance on the Today show. During the appearance, as the duo discussed the campaign, they were asked by the host, Dylan Dreyer, to challenge someone for donating to Team Water's $40 million fundraiser.
While Rober suggested Mark Cuban, MrBeast turned to the camera with a grin and said,
"Ken Griffin. You got a lot of money. Come on, help us out!"
MrBeast declared the billionaire founder of the Citadel, who clearly heard his call.
Days later, Griffin donated $2.25 million as part of the Team Water donation. It instantly topped the billionaire on the leaderboard of the campaign's donors. MrBeast later celebrated this win through X, posting
"When I was on the news to raise money for TeamWater the host asked me to call someone out, I randomly said Ken Griffen AND HE JUST DONATED $2,250,000 LOL." "THANK YOU SO MUCH KEN ❤️❤️❤️,"
MrBeast's post read ahead.
Griffin's donation has brought the Team Water campaign a lot closer to its goal of providing clean water to approximately 2 million people.
Who is Ken Griffin, the billionaire who made a $2.5 million donation to Team Water?
Ken Griffin is the 54-year-old founder and CEO of Citadel. Today, Citadel is one of the most profitable hedge funds, while Griffin ranks amidst world's wealthiest individuals. He holds a significant fortune estimated to be approx. $47.3 billion (as per Forbes). Griffin is popularly known for his philanthropy, particularly towards educational institutions.
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Griffin's philanthropic history includes some major donations to Harvard University and the University of Chicago, where the billionaire made donations of $300 million and $125 million, respectively. The donations are often focused on research and access. Beyond it, the billionaire's giving also extends beyond academia. He supports many non-profit causes, and his latest donation has been to Team Water. It aligns perfectly with his pattern of high-value and impactful contributions.
Ken Griffin donation gives a big boost to Team Water's mission
Citadel founder's $2.25 million donation has instantly propelled him to the top of Team Water's donor leaderboard. This campaign, which was launched by Rober and MrBeast in early August, had a clear mission: to raise $40 million by the end of the month. Funds were meant to directly support WaterAid and provide sustainable clean water solutions around the world.
As per this initiative, every dollar can offer a person clean water access for a year. The massive contribution of Griffin alone here can translate to clean water access for millions. The surprise windfall has significantly accelerated the campaign to $40 million target. It shows how a public and direct appeal made for an impactful initiative could result in global good.
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