What is David Booth’s net worth?
David G. Booth is an American investment manager and philanthropist who has a net worth of $5 billion. David G. Booth earned his fortune as the co-founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors, a global investment management firm known for applying academic research to practical investing strategies.
Over the course of his career, Booth has helped revolutionize index-based investing, guided Dimensional’s growth into a firm with hundreds of billions in assets under management, and amassed a substantial personal fortune. He is equally renowned for his philanthropy, particularly toward educational institutions and the arts. A lifelong supporter of his alma mater, the University of Kansas, Booth has made some of the largest donations in the school’s history, cementing his name on its football stadium and significantly impacting both its athletic and academic programs. His business acumen and generosity have made him one of the most influential figures in modern finance and one of the most celebrated alumni in KU history.
Early Life and Education
David Gilbert Booth was born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas. Growing up in the shadow of the University of Kansas campus, Booth developed a deep connection to the institution that would shape much of his later life. He earned both his bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from KU before pursuing further education at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he completed his MBA in 1971. The Chicago program’s emphasis on empirical research in finance and the teachings of economist Eugene Fama had a profound influence on Booth’s investment philosophy.
Founding Dimensional Fund Advisors
In 1981, Booth co-founded Dimensional Fund Advisors with Rex Sinquefield and a small team of like-minded colleagues. The firm was built on the principle of translating rigorous academic research into practical investment solutions, focusing heavily on the relationship between risk and return in equity markets. Rather than attempting to time the market or pick individual stocks, Dimensional emphasized broad diversification, cost efficiency, and systematic exposure to proven risk factors.
Under Booth’s leadership, Dimensional grew from a small startup into a global investment powerhouse with offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The firm has consistently attracted clients ranging from large institutions to individual investors, earning a reputation for its disciplined, evidence-based approach. Booth’s work helped popularize factor investing and brought academic financial theory into mainstream portfolio management.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Connection
One of the more surprising connections to David Booth and Dimensional Fund Advisors comes through Arnold Schwarzenegger. Outside of his film salaries and bodybuilding fame, Schwarzenegger has built a massive fortune through real estate investments and a significant ownership stake in Dimensional. Since arriving in the United States in the 1970s, he consistently reinvested his earnings into commercial and residential properties, becoming a millionaire by the age of 25. His real estate holdings today are estimated to be worth between $100 million and $200 million.
In 1996, Schwarzenegger acquired a 5% stake in Dimensional Fund Advisors for an undisclosed sum, at a time when the firm was managing around $12 billion in assets. By the time he ran for Governor of California in 2003, Dimensional’s assets under management had grown to $300 billion. Today, the firm is believed to manage just under $700 billion. Based on that scale, Schwarzenegger’s pre-tax stake is estimated to be worth between $300 million and $500 million. This long-standing investment has been a major contributor to his net worth and serves as a unique link between the worlds of Hollywood, high finance, and Booth’s pioneering investment firm.
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Philanthropy and Impact on the University of Kansas
Booth’s most visible philanthropic efforts have been directed toward the University of Kansas. In 2017, he made a $50 million gift to help fund major renovations to the school’s football stadium, which was later renamed David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in his honor.
In 2025, Booth made headlines again with an unprecedented $300 million pledge to support KU athletics and campus development—one of the largest gifts in the history of college athletics. Of that total, $75 million will fund the next phase of the Gateway District project, which includes finishing the south and east sides of the stadium and developing an adjacent mixed-use district with student housing, a hotel, retail and restaurant spaces, an outdoor plaza, and expanded parking. The remainder of the donation will provide long-term support for Kansas athletics programs, giving the university flexibility amid evolving NCAA regulations and revenue-sharing models.
University officials hailed the gift as “transformative” for KU’s future. Booth himself described it as an investment in the community that shaped him, saying, “One of life’s greatest privileges is being able to give back to the people and places that gave so much to you. Philanthropy, like investing, pays dividends over time. Each gift compounds, creating opportunities not just for today, but for years to come.”
Other Philanthropic Endeavors
Beyond his contributions to KU, Booth has supported a range of causes in education, art, and public policy. In 2008, he made a high-profile purchase of Dr. James Naismith’s original 1891 rules of basketball at auction for $4.3 million, later donating them to the University of Kansas, where they are displayed in a dedicated facility. He has also contributed to the University of Chicago, endowing its Booth School of Business with a $300 million naming gift in 2008, the largest in the school’s history.
Booth’s philanthropy extends to cultural institutions, such as the Museum of Modern Art, and he has been an advocate for public access to art and historical preservation. His giving philosophy often mirrors his investment principles—making significant, long-term commitments to institutions he believes will create lasting impact.
Recognition and Legacy
David Booth’s career has been marked by both financial innovation and extraordinary generosity. In the investment world, he is recognized as a pioneer who helped bring academic rigor to portfolio management. His name now graces not only one of the most respected business schools in the world but also the football stadium of his beloved alma mater.
Through his record-breaking donations and unwavering support for education and athletics, Booth has secured a lasting legacy that bridges finance, philanthropy, and community development. Whether in the boardroom of Dimensional Fund Advisors or at the heart of a revitalized University of Kansas campus, his influence will be felt for generations.
All net worths are calculated using data drawn from public sources. When provided, we also incorporate private tips and feedback received from the celebrities or their representatives. While we work diligently to ensure that our numbers are as accurate as possible, unless otherwise indicated they are only estimates. We welcome all corrections and feedback using the button below.
