# Stephen Mandel Hedge fund manager and philanthropist. Net worth estimated at $2.5 billion (2024). Phillips Exeter, Dartmouth (BA Government), Harvard (MBA). Major Democratic donor—$16.2 million in the 2020 cycle (22nd largest donor nationally), $2 million to the [[Lincoln Project]]. He serves on the boards of [[Teach for America]] and the Environmental Defense Fund. With his wife Susan, founded the [Zoom Foundation](https://www.zoomfoundation.org/) (2001), which controls $1.2 billion in assets. He channels 99.9% of the giving through donor-advised funds (like [Fidelity Charitable](https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/)). This allows the foundation to meet legal spending requirements while keeping the final recipients of the money anonymous—leading _Inside Philanthropy_ to call him a "[black box billionaire](https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2024-7-10-meet-the-black-box-billionaires-are-these-americas-most-secretive-mega-donors)". **Online:** [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Mandel_\(hedge_fund_manager\)) **Organization:** Lone Pine Capital **Location:** Greenwich, Connecticut --- ## Entries **[[2025-10-29]]:** Identified in NYT coverage as lead financial backer of the [[Searchlight Institute]], Adam Jentleson's new Democratic think tank.