David Rubenstein, ’73, Extends Transformative Support for Law School Scholars with $15M Gift
David M. Rubenstein, ’73, with a new $15 million gift, has extended his support of the University of Chicago Law School’s Rubenstein Scholars Program.
The Rubenstein Scholars Program is one of the most distinguished scholarship initiatives in legal education, and Rubenstein’s latest contribution ensures the continued recruitment and support of exceptional students through highly competitive, full-tuition plus stipend scholarships.
Established in 2010 with a $10 million gift, this latest donation brings the cumulative total of Rubenstein’s gifts to the Rubenstein Scholars Program to $76 million. The program has benefited more than 220 students to date.
“We are incredibly grateful to David for his ongoing support in creating and sustaining what has become the most prestigious scholarship program in legal education,” said Adam Chilton, Dean and Howard G. Krane Professor of Law. “This kind of sustained investment strengthens the Law School in lasting ways. It allows us to bring together exceptional students whose energy and ideas enrich our academic community and contribute meaningfully to the profession, and it’s my hope that David’s gift inspires other donors to support this important mission.”
Ann K. Perry, Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid, said, “Mr. Rubenstein’s remarkable generosity in supporting the Law School through this scholarship program has been truly transformative for its recipients, opening doors of opportunity while strengthening the Law School’s ability to attract the most talented and accomplished students to its classrooms.”
"My career trajectory was deeply influenced by the invaluable guidance and unwavering support of the mentors and friends that I gained through the program.” Nena Benavides, ’22
The scholarships enable recipients to pursue a wide range of career paths. Rubenstein Scholars have gone on to careers in government and public service, clerkships at the highest levels of the federal judiciary, and leading roles in private practice and beyond.
“Being selected as a Rubenstein Scholar was truly life-changing for me,” said Nena Benavides, ’22, who will clerk for US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson during the October 2026–2027 Term. “In addition to providing incredibly generous financial support, the program fosters a community of thoughtful and inspiring people. My career trajectory was deeply influenced by the invaluable guidance and unwavering support of the mentors and friends that I gained through the program.”
Benavides is the fifteenth Rubenstein Scholar to have been selected to serve as a US Supreme Court clerk. In total, more than 62 percent of all alumni in the program have served in at least one federal judicial clerkship.
In establishing the program, Rubenstein sought to provide future students with the same opportunities that shaped his own path.
Rubenstein said, “Through full tuition scholarships we can attract exceptional students who are more likely to consider public service because they do not have to worry about loan repayment. The financial support I received from Chicago Law fostered my ability to later serve in government, and I am humbled by the opportunity to pay that debt of gratitude forward.”
“Through full tuition scholarships we can attract exceptional students who are more likely to consider public service because they do not have to worry about loan repayment." David M. Rubenstein, ’73
Neel Roy, ’26, is exactly the type of student with an interest in public service whom Rubenstein describes. After graduating this spring, Roy will join the staff of the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health, where he will work on healthcare policy issues.
“The Rubenstein Scholarship has made it easier for me to take professional risks while young—to think broadly and creatively about what I might do with legal training—for which I am quite grateful!” Roy said.
“The Rubenstein Scholarship has made it easier for me to take professional risks while young—to think broadly and creatively about what I might do with legal training—for which I am quite grateful!" Neel Roy, ’26
Lior Strahilevitz, the Sidley Austin Professor of Law and Faculty Director of the Rubenstein Scholarship program since its inception, said, “The Rubenstein Scholarship Program has been an enormous success, bringing some of the world’s most talented law students to the University of Chicago. It has provided them with a first-rate education and unlimited opportunities to improve our profession and our society while eliminating scholars’ worries about paying off debt or limiting their life choices. The program has had a transformative impact on the Law School, and we now know it will continue to benefit our community in the years to come.”
A philanthropic leader and partner
The new gift builds upon Rubenstein’s longstanding commitment to the University.
Since 2022, he has served as chair of the Board of Trustees, working closely with President Paul Alivisatos to help steward the University’s vision and long-term priorities, strengthen its governance, and ensure that UChicago can sustain transformative education and field-defining research.
His support also enabled the creation of the Rubenstein Forum, which opened in 2021 as an intellectual destination that strengthens the University’s connection to the city and world, hosting conferences, lectures, academic symposia, arts events, and discussions with experts and leaders from campus and around the globe. And in March 2026 Rubenstein committed $50 million to support the modernization of Ida Noyes Hall, transforming the iconic 1916 building into a dynamic gathering place for students and the campus community—and a welcoming hub for alumni and visitors.
Rubenstein is co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. He has demonstrated a deep commitment to preserving documents and buildings central to the nation’s history, advancing public understanding of the institutions that have defined the American experiment. He is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an original signer of The Giving Pledge, author of five books, and a television and podcast host.
Adam Chilton
Dean, Howard G. Krane Professor of Law