September 19, 2010 | Read Time: 1 minute
Age at death: 95
Biggest beneficiary: In 2007, Mr. Kluge pledged $400-million to Columbia University, his alma mater, for student financial aid. He said at the time that the university would receive the money upon his death. Of the total, he earmarked $200-million for financial aid for undergraduates, and the remaining $200-million for scholarships and fellowships to benefit other parts of the university.
Other major gifts: Mr. Kluge also gave $60-million to the Library of Congress in 2000 for anthropology, history, and sociology programs, and for an awards program honoring scholarship in the human sciences; and an estate comprising more than 7,000 acres, valued at more than $45-million, to the University of Virginia in 2001.
How he made his fortune: He led a collection of broadcasting and other companies under the umbrella of the Metromedia Company, which was eventually sold to WorldCom for $1.3-billion in 2001. Last year, Mr. Kluge’s wealth was estimated by Forbes magazine at $6.5-billion.
How he gave: He established the John W. Kluge Foundation, in Rockville, Md., which reported assets of more than $59.2-million last year, and gave nearly $7-million to charities during the fiscal year that ended on September 30, 2009, according to the foundation’s tax filings.
How he will be remembered: Lee C. Bollinger, Columbia University’s president, says that while Mr. Kluge was not a particularly hands-on donor, “he loved the process of giving. He was a person that you could admire and love, and it was reciprocated.”
