Hebrew University Tech Campus gets additional $19M from billionaire John Paulson, totaling $46M in 4 years

Hebrew University’s new state-of-the-art research and teaching complex is dedicated to STEM disciplines on the Edmond Safra Campus in Givat Ram. It is now receiving an additional financial boost with a new donation of $19 million from the Paulson Family Foundation.

Four years ago, the foundation donated $27 million to the construction of a computer science building. Together, the contributions, worth a total of $46 million, constitute one of the largest donations Hebrew University has ever received. 

The complex will include the Paulson Bar-El Building for Computer Science & Engineering and the John Paulson Building for Electrical Engineering, both supporting research and teaching in applied physics, computer science, and electrical engineering.

The founder and chairman of the Paulson Family Foundation, billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson, explained that the main incentive for his support for Hebrew University were the technological innovations that Israel has given the world.

“Israel has stunned the world with its technological innovations,” Paulson said. These gifts are intended to provide much-needed support for educating the next generation of technological leaders in computer science and engineering.

He added that three additional reasons that had motivated the gift, namely, Hebrew University’s academic excellence, its productivity, and Israel’s need for outside donations as a small country, which “faces enormous economic challenges.”

“HU is the leading institution for higher education in Israel,” Paulson said. “Founded by Albert Einstein in 1925, Hebrew University has received more Nobel prizes than all other Israeli institutions combined and is the only Israeli recipient of both a Fields Medal and Turing Award.”

According to Paulson, Hebrew University is uniquely efficient in training its students at a fraction of the price of comparable Ivy League universities and institutions in the United States. 

“Hebrew University is among the most academically productive institutions in the world and is extremely efficient in educating its students, “he said.  “As an example, its total cost per full-time student is only 10% of the cost of comparable US Ivy League Universities.”

Paulson concluded that he could “think of no more deserving University for philanthropic support than Hebrew University at this time.”

President of the Hebrew University, Professor Tamir Sheafer, thanked Paulson for his support, calling it an “extraordinary investment” in Israel’s future. 

“As the Hebrew University of Jerusalem enters its second century, we are deeply grateful to John Paulson for this significant support—a true friend of the University,” Sheafer said. “This extraordinary investment in the future of Israel reflects his deep understanding of the role advanced science and technology play in Israel's economic resilience and global standing. By bringing together teaching laboratories and world-class research infrastructure, we are empowering researchers and students alike to accelerate innovation and strengthen Israel's high-tech leadership.”

In late 2024, Paulson was mentioned as a potential candidate for U.S. Treasury Secretary in the administration of President Donald Trump. He has donated to Trump’s political campaigns and fundraisers, including a fundraising event hosted at his Palm Beach home that raised $50 million. In 2016, Paulson served on Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers.