Music mogul and noted superyacht owner David Geffen has donated $150 million to Yale School of Drama so that all students can attend tuition-free in the future.
Yale announced the gift on Wednesday.
It is believed to be the largest philanthropic gift on record in American theater.
As a result, the school now has a new name: The David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University.
“David Geffen’s gift will be transformative for us at the School and for the American theater at large,” Geffen School of Drama Dean James Bundy stated in a release. “Full tuition support of our training will help us attract talent from the broadest possible spectrum of potential applicants, and it sends a clear message that Yale is a place where a stimulating mix of gifted students can devote their energies first and foremost to artistry. This will lead to a fuller representation of our society in every aspect of professional practice.”
Geffen, who has a $10 billion estimated net worth, has also been in the news lately for broadcasting the fact that he quarantined during the pandemic on his 454-foot $570 million“Rising Sun” superyacht (pictured above).
This gift means that any student accepted to Yale School Of Drama can afford to pursue a drama education at Yale without worrying about the cost. I hope this increases the diversity of students at the Drama School and creates a pipeline of diverse graduates who will influence the greater world of drama after the graduates go on to make their mark in the business.