Palm Beach homeowner and billionaire Ken Griffinis adding a major philanthropic gift to his growing list of contributions.
The founder and CEO of Citadel donated $26 million to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, helping complete the library's west wing. The library officially opened on July 4 and celebrates the life and legacy of the nation's 26th president.
Here's what to know about Griffin's latest donation.
1. Griffin's $26 million gift will complete the library's west wing
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library announced Griffin's $26 million donation will support the completion of the library's west wing, a key part of the new campus in the North Dakota Badlands.
To recognize the gift, the building will be named the Kenneth C. Griffin West Wing.
"In our nation's 250-year
history, few Americans have embodied the spirit of leadership as fully as Theodore Roosevelt," Griffin said in a statementannouncing the gift. "His vision, courage, and commitment to public service left an enduring mark on our nation."
2. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library opened on Independence Day
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library welcomed visitors for the first time on July 4.
Located in Medora, North Dakota, the library sits in the Badlands where Roosevelt spent time after the deaths of his wife and mother on the same day in 1884. Historians say those years helped shape his conservation ethic, leadership style and political future.
Roosevelt later reflected on the state's impact, saying, "I have always said I would not have been President had it not been for my experience in North Dakota."
The new presidential library preserves that legacy while highlighting Roosevelt's conservation efforts, commitment to public service and enduring influence on American history.
Designed by international architecture firm Snøhetta, the facility is billed as the nation's only carbon-neutral presidential library.
3. Library leaders say Griffin's gift expands its mission
Library CEO Edward F. O'Keefe said Griffin's donation will strengthen the institution's educational mission.
"We are deeply grateful to Ken Griffin for his extraordinary generosity and visionary support," O'Keefe said. "The Kenneth C. Griffin West Wing will be a vital component of our campus, allowing us to expand civic education."
O'Keefe added that Griffin's support reflects a commitment to leadership, citizenship and public service, values closely associated with Roosevelt.
4. Griffin has made several major donations in Palm Beach County
Although Griffin owns the largest private estate in Palm Beach, he relocated Citadel's headquarters from Chicago to Miami in recent years. His philanthropy has left a significant mark across South Florida.
Among his largest Palm Beach County gifts are:
- $20 million to the Norton Museum of Art's expansion campaign in 2018, where a wing now bears his name.
- $13 million to the Cox Science Center and Aquarium's expansion project.
- $7 million to help restore Phipps Ocean Park through the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach.
According to Forbes, Griffin's estimated net worth is $52.3 billion.
5. The library also has ties to Palm Beach
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library has another Palm Beach connection beyond Griffin's gift.
Palm Beach civic leader Matt Swift serves on the library's board of directors and chaired its grand-opening committee. Swift is also chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce and joined the library's board in 2025.
His involvement underscores the growing relationship between Palm Beach philanthropists and one of the nation's newest presidential libraries.
Emmy Bailey is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Why Palm Beach billionaire Griffin gave $26M to the Roosevelt Library
