Billionaire Len Blavatnik, a donor to Harvard, purportedly suspends donations to the university

Len Blavatnik, a billionaire and donor to Harvard University, has suspended donations to the school following the controversy with President Claudine Gay and antisemitism. Blavatnik is a Ukrainian-born British-American businessman and philanthropist. As of December 2023, Forbes estimated his net worth at $31.8 billion. In 2017, Blavatnik received a knighthood for his philanthropy.

Blavatnik's foundation suspended donations to Harvard, a source told CNN. The Blavatnik Family Foundation's website does not address the purported suspension of donations.

Blavatnik is leaving the door open to resume donations, according to the source, unlike hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman and others who appear to have largely severed ties with the university.

Blavatnik is Jewish, and his foundation's largesse includes millions of dollars in donations to Jewish-related causes. As of now he hasn't publicly made any demands of the school, but reportedly does want to ensure that Jewish students are safe on the campus.

During the House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., questioned President Gay, asking, “At Harvard, does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Harvard’s rules of bullying and harassment?” 

Gay responded, saying, “depending on the context,” it could violate policies, adding that “antisemitic speech, when it crosses into conduct that amounts to bullying, harassment, intimidation — that is actionable conduct and we do take action.” 

She later apologized for her remarks in an interview with The Harvard Crimson, saying "words matter."

Gay is also facing plagiarism allegations, adding to the controversy over Harvard's administration and social policy agenda.