U. alums at home on 'Forbes' list

It's always nice to have friends in high places. For the University, it's especially nice when those friends are in high places on Forbes magazine's annual list of America's wealthiest people – and especially when you're trying to conduct a capital campaign. Many of the University's famous and affluent alumni have been major contributors to the University's ongoing capital campaign. Among them are: ·Walter Annenberg Not exactly a surprise. This ex-Whartonite –Eno one seems too sure whether or not he actually graduated –Ehas donated $40 million during the capital campaign towards the University's new Center for Judaic Studies, the History Department, the Law School and the Dental School. And that's not even counting the $120 million he donated this summer to the University's communications school, which, not coincidentally, bears his name. Despite his donation spree earlier this year, during which he gave the University of Southern California $120 million, his former boarding school $100 million, and $25 million to Harvard University – in addition to his $120 million gift to the University –EForbes figures he may still have another $2.1 billion left in his coffers. ·Ronald Perelman The chief executive officer of Revlon, who took his bachelor's and master's degrees from Wharton in 1964 and 1966, respectively, donated $10 million dollars to the campaign, namely towards funding the proposed new campus center. He has also made other contributions. Forbes estimated his net worth at $3.6 billion. ·Leonard and Ronald Lauder Cosmetics barons and Whartonites both – 1954 and 1965 vintage, respectively – the two have donated $12 million to the campaign. Those funds went, appropriately enough, to the Lauder Institute, the Lauder Career Center, as well as an endowed fellowship fund for the Wharton School. Forbes estimated their family's cosmetics firm is worth at least $3 billion. ·Saul Steinberg Also not much of a surprise – the Wharton undergraduate building bears his name. The 1959 Wharton graduate has donated over $30 million during the capital campaign. Fifteen million of that went to Wharton, $10 million to the School of Arts and Sciences. Forbes estimated his net worth at "at least $360 million." ·Michael Milken The 1970 Wharton M.B.A., who acquired fame as the high-flying king of the high-yield "junk-bond" salesmen, and later shame when he pleaded guilty to six counts of securities law violations, has given $3 million to the campaign. Most of the cash has has gone to community-outreach type programs. Despite having to make a reported $900 million settlement with the government and his creditors, Forbes figures he still has "at least $400 million – and possibly much more." ·Jon Huntsman The CEO of Huntsman Chemical, and a 1959 Wharton graduate, Huntsman has given $4.4 million during the campaign. Forbes figures he has about $550 million left. ·Michael Steinhardt The prominent New York money manager and 1960 Wharton graduate has given to the campaign, but at his request, University officials won't say how much. Forbes estimates his net worth at over $300 million –E"perhaps well over." Of course, just because University alumni are on the Forbes 400 doesn't necessarily mean they share their wealth with their ama mater. Steve Wynn, the owner of the Golden Nugget casinos and a 1963 College graduate, did not make this year's list but is reportedly a good bet for next year's. Still, he hasn't donated to the campaign. And Warren Buffett, who topped the Forbes list this year with an estimated net worth of $8.325 billion and who attended the University for two years, also hasn't donated. On the other hand, just because an alum isn't on the Forbes list does not mean he or she hasn't been a prominent contributor to the campaign. George Weiss, a 1965 Wharton alumnus, has given $8.2 million to the campaign, some of which has gone towards supporting the athletic department and to endowing professors' chairs. And Charles Williams, a 1978 Ph.D. in archaeology, has donated $11 million, part of which has gone to the University Museum and for endowing chairs in the School of Arts and Sciences. While Virginia Clark, vice president for development and alumni relations, said it is nice to have big spenders donate to the University, the success of a campaign depends on the volume of donors. "What has made this campaign work is the number of volunteers and donors who have given to the campaign," she said. "I know this is going to sound hokey, but it's just as important for the squash team and crew team to have support of alumni as it is for us to have major gifts to the building or capital projects."

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