Billionaire David Rubenstein Sure Funds a Lot of DC Stuff

Construction is beginning on a new visitor center at the Lincoln Memorial, and $18.5 million of the cost was donated by local billionaire David Rubenstein. It’s hardly the first time he’s put his money into local projects. A quick (partial) look:

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National Archives

In 2007, Rubenstein bought one of four copies of the 1297 Magna Carta. The document is now on display at the Archives. Additionally, he made a $13.5 million gift that led to the creation of the David M. Rubenstein Gallery.

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The National Zoo’s giant-panda program

He donated $4.5 million in 2011 to fund the lovable creatures for five years.

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White House Historical Association

Rubenstein put $15 million toward various projects in 2010 and 2014.

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George Washington’s Mount Vernon

In 2013, Rubenstein helped fund construction of the Washington Library and helped create the David M. Rubenstein Rare Books and Manuscripts Endowment.

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Washington Monument

After the 2011 earthquake, Rubenstein offered more than $10 million to finish repairs.

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National Museum of African American History & Culture

Rubenstein donated $10 million in 2016 and loaned the museum his rare copies of the 13th Amendment and the Emancipation Proclamation.

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Kennedy Center

The Reach, which opened in 2019, was funded by his $50 million gift. (He’s also chairman of the Kennedy Center board.)

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US Holocaust Memorial Museum

In 2022, Rubenstein announced he’d pay $15 million to help digitize the museum’s collection.

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Library of Congress

He supplied $10 million toward construction and improvement of the collections in its Thomas Jefferson Building.

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WETA

He gave $1 million in 2014 to support the public-­TV station’s programming—and hosts two shows there himself.

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DC Public Schools Scholarships

This program, endowed by Rubenstein, has awarded more than $9.7 million to 656 scholars.

This article appears in the April 2023 issue of Washingtonian.
This article was briefly posted with a lead image that was not David Rubenstein; we apologize for any confusion.