Media mogul Donald Newhouse is set to speak at SU’s 2016 Commencement ceremony on May 15 in the Carrier Dome. Here’s what you should know about him:

 

1. He is the 116th richest man in the world.

Donald Newhouse, at age 86, has a net worth of $10.1 billion, according to Forbes. This makes him the 116th richest billionaire in the world. In the United States, he is the 48th richest person.

 

2. His father funded the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Newhouse’s father, Samuel Irving Newhouse, took over his first newspaper in 1912 at age 17. At the time of his death, he owned the third largest newspaper chain in the U.S. in addition to numerous other media outlets, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.

One of his largest philanthropies was to Syracuse University. The university used his $15 million donation to establish the Newhouse School.

 

3. He presides over newspapers in more than 25 U.S. cities.

After S.I.’s death, Newhouse and his brother, also named Samuel, took control of S.I.’s media empire. Advance Publications owns Condé Nast, the magazine conglomerate that Samuel presides over, as well as newspapers, cable television and other entertainment outlets.

Newhouse presides over the newspaper side of the business, which is the largest privately owned newspaper chain in the U.S., according to Forbes.

 

4. He helped fund a humanities center at Wellesley College.

Newhouse and his late wife, Susan, donated a large sum to Wellesley College, her alma mater, in 2004. The college used it to establish the Susan and Donald Newhouse Center for the Humanities. The center hosts artists, speakers and fellows.

Susan graduated from Wellesley in 1955.

 

5. He is the wealthiest resident of New Jersey.

As of March 16, Newhouse is the wealthiest resident of the state of New Jersey, according to NJ.com. David Tepper, the owner of Appaloosa Management, was the richest resident before he moved to Miami.

Published on March 24, 2016 at 2:23 am

Contact Delaney: dovanwey@syr.edu