{{Short description|American businessman (born 1943)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Leon Cooperman | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1943|04|25}} | birth_place = New York City, U.S. | education = Hunter College (BA)<br/> Columbia University (MBA) | occupation = Investor, hedge fund manager | known_for = Starting Goldman Sachs's asset management arm<br> Founding and leading Omega Advisors | spouse = Toby Cooperman | children = 2 | website = https://www.omegaadvisers.com }}
'''Leon G. Cooperman''' (born April 25, 1943) is an American billionaire investor and hedge fund manager. He’s the chairman and CEO of Omega Advisors, a New York-based investment advisory firm managing over $3.3 billion in assets under management, the majority consisting of his personal wealth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leon G. Cooperman |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/leon-g-cooperman/ |access-date=November 13, 2022 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
In September 2016 the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged Cooperman and Omega Advisors with insider trading, more specifically for "trading stocks, bonds and call options of Atlas Pipeline Partners in July 2010 on information he obtained from an executive at the company."<ref>{{Citation|title=SEC Charges Billionaire Hedge Fund Manager Leon Cooperman With Insider Trading|url=https://www.forbes.com/video/5135597952001/|language=en|accessdate=February 20, 2017}}</ref> Cooperman's firm agreed to a $4.9 million settlement with the SEC in May 2017 but admitted no wrong-doing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/18/business/dealbook/leon-cooperman-omega-advisors-insider-trading.html|title=Leon Cooperman's Hedge Fund Settles Insider Trading Case|last=Goldstein|first=Matthew|date=May 18, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 18, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> As part of the settlement, Cooperman and Omega agreed to be subject to a compliance monitor with access to their electronic communications and trading records and to submit monthly certifications that they had not engaged in insider trading until 2022.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=SEC.gov {{!}} Statement on Leon Cooperman Settling Insider Trading Charges|url=https://www.sec.gov/news/public-statement/statement-leon-cooperman-settling-insider-trading-charges|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=www.sec.gov}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Cooperman was born to a Jewish<ref name=NJJewishNews /> family in the South Bronx, New York City.<ref>{{Cite news| url = http://www.insidermonkey.com/hedge-fund/omega+advisors/49/|title= Hedge Fund - Omega Advisors|publisher=Insider Monkey|date = March 31, 2014}}</ref> He is the son of immigrants from Poland.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Freeland|first1=Chrystia|title=Super-Rich Irony|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/10/08/super-rich-irony|accessdate=September 21, 2016|publisher=newyorker.com|date=October 8, 2012|quote=... going on to describe his humble beginnings in the South Bronx, as the son of working-class parents—his father was a plumber—who had emigrated from Poland.}}</ref> Cooperman was the first in his family to earn a college degree.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|last1=Delevingne|first1=Lawrence|title=Alpha addict: The amazing career of Leon Cooperman|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2014/07/15/alpha-addict-the-amazing-career-of-leon-cooperman.html|website=cnbc.com|accessdate=September 21, 2016|date=July 15, 2014|quote=... was the first in his family to go to college...}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Strauss|first1=Lawrence C.|title=Cues From Cooperman|url=http://www.barrons.com/articles/SB50001424052748703591404578460990681079204|website=barrons.com|publisher=Barron's|accessdate=September 21, 2016|date=May 20, 2013|quote=The son of a plumber, Cooperman grew up in the Bronx and was the first member of his family to get a college degree, in his case at Hunter College.}}</ref> As an undergraduate at Hunter College, Cooperman joined and was an active member of the fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi. After graduating, he became a quality control engineer at Xerox in 1965.<ref name="Forbes profile">{{cite web |title=Forbes profile: Leon G. Cooperman |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/leon-g-cooperman/ |accessdate=July 1, 2020 |website=Forbes}}</ref> Cooperman later received his MBA from Columbia Business School, graduating in 1967.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Durgy|first1=Edwin|title="Great Sense Of Gratitude" Inspires $25 Million Gift From Hedge Fund Billionaire To Alma Mater|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/edwindurgy/2012/04/23/great-sense-of-gratitude-inspires-25-million-gift-from-hedge-fund-billionaire-to-alma-mater/#2eaf0f8436af|website=Forbes.com|accessdate=September 21, 2016|date=April 23, 2012|quote=Cooperman has served on the Board of Overseers at Columbia Business School for more than 20 years and received his MBA from the school in January of 1967.}}</ref> He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.<ref name="auto"/>
==Investment career==
=== Early career and Goldman Sachs === Directly after graduating from Columbia, Cooperman joined Goldman Sachs. He spent his first 22 years at Goldman in the investment research department as partner-in-charge, co-chairman of the investment policy committee, and chairman of the stock selection committee. In 1989, he became chairman and chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs Asset Management<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/03/business/wall-street-investing-goldman-s-new-money.html|title=Wall Street; Investing Goldman's New Money|date=June 3, 1990|work=The New York Times|accessdate=September 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/24/business/market-place-sotheby-s-stock-loses-some-gloss.html|title=Market Place; Sotheby's Stock Loses Some Gloss|date=November 24, 1989|work=The New York Times|accessdate=September 21, 2016}}</ref> and was chief investment officer of the equity product line including managing the GS Capital Growth Fund, an open-end mutual fund, for one and one-half years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/02/business/business-people-a-partner-is-retiring-at-goldman-sachs.html|title=A Partner Is Retiring At Goldman, Sachs|date=July 2, 1991|work=The New York Times|accessdate=September 21, 2016}}</ref>
While at Goldman Sachs, Cooperman was voted the number one portfolio strategist in the ''Institutional Investor'' "All-America Research Team" survey <ref name="auto">{{cite news|title=JTS Gala Event on "Good Investing and Investing in Good" Will Honor Richard S. Pzena in May|url=http://www.jtsa.edu/jts-gala-may-2016|accessdate=September 21, 2016|work=jtsa.edu|date=April 4, 2016|quote=For nine consecutive years, he was voted the number one portfolio strategist in Institutional Investor magazine's annual "All-America Research Team" survey. A designated Chartered Financial Analyst, Mr. Cooperman is a past president of the New York Society of Security Analysts. He is chairman emeritus of the Saint Barnabas Development Foundation; a member of the board of overseers of Columbia University Graduate School of Business and the board of directors of Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation; on the investment committee of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center; and board chairman of Green Spaces in Newark, New Jersey.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasdaq.com/article/humble-beginnings-leon-coopermans-topyield-stocks-in-review-cm311607|title=Humble Beginnings, Leon Cooperman's Top-Yield Stocks in Review|date=December 16, 2013|publisher=nasdaq.com|accessdate=September 21, 2016}}</ref> for nine consecutive years.
At the end of 1991, after 25 years, Cooperman retired from his positions as a general partner of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and as chairman and chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs Asset Management.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.omegaadvisors.com|title=Omega Advisors, Inc. - Home Pages|publisher=omegaadvisors.com|accessdate=September 21, 2016}}</ref>
=== Omega === After leaving Goldman Sachs, he organized a private investment partnership, Omega Advisors, Inc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/techflash/2015/10/hedge-fund-investorleon-cooperman-takes-stake-in.html|title=Omega Partners' Leon Cooperman takes stake in Waltham tech firm Lionbridge - Boston Business Journal|publisher=bizjournals.com|accessdate=September 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasdaq.com/article/why-leon-cooperman-is-spending-billions-on-these-3-smallcap-stocks-cm217036|title=Why Leon Cooperman is Spending Billions on These 3 Small-Cap Stocks|date=February 11, 2013|publisher=nasdaq.com|accessdate=September 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aol.com/article/2010/10/05/hedge-fund-billionaire-leon-cooperman-is-giving-most-of-it-away/19661068/|title=Hedge Fund Billionaire Leon Cooperman Is Giving Most of It Away|publisher=aol.com|accessdate=September 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=10. Leon Cooperman|url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/mdg45eejfh/10-leon-cooperman/#33eb27761d9a|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302181314/http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mdg45eejfh/10-leon-cooperman/#33eb27761d9a|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 2, 2014|website=forbes.com|accessdate=September 21, 2016|quote=He departed in 1991 to found Omega, his own fund management company.}}</ref> Cooperman retired in 2016 and converted Omega to a family office.<ref>{{Cite web| last = Gara| first = Antoine| title = Know When To Fold 'Em: Billionaire Leon Cooperman To Close Hedge Fund After Big Comeback| work = Forbes| accessdate = March 18, 2019| url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoinegara/2018/07/23/know-when-to-fold-em-billionaire-leon-cooperman-to-close-hedge-fund-after-big-comeback/}}</ref>
=== 2016 SEC investigation === On September 21, 2016, Cooperman was charged with insider trading by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.<ref name="sec1">[https://www.sec.gov/news/pressrelease/2016-189.html SEC News Press Release: "SEC Charges Hedge Fund Manager Leon Cooperman With Insider Trading"] September 21, 2016</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Alexandra Stevenson|author2=Matthew Goldstein|title=Hedge Fund Manager Leon Cooperman Charged With Insider Trading|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/22/business/dealbook/leon-cooperman-insider-trading.html|website=The New York Times|accessdate=September 21, 2016|date=September 21, 2016}}</ref> He denied the charges.<ref>{{cite news|title=Leon Cooperman Denies SEC Insider Trading Charges|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-09-21/leon-cooperman-denies-wrongdoing-defends-atlas-trades|accessdate=September 21, 2016|agency=bloomberg.com|date=September 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pramuk|first1=Jacob|title=Leon Cooperman: SEC charges are without merit; we will vigorously defend ourselves|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/21/leon-cooperman-sec-charges-are-without-merit-we-will-vigorously-defend-ourselves.html|accessdate=September 21, 2016|agency=cnbc.com|date=September 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Merle|first1=Renae|title=Hedge fund billionaire Leon Cooperman charged with insider trading|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2016/09/21/hedge-fund-billionaire-leon-cooperman-charged-with-insider-trading/|accessdate=September 21, 2016|agency=The Washington Post|work=washingtonpost.com|date=September 21, 2016}}</ref> Cooperman faced criminal charges in a related parallel proceeding and has asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination before a SEC hearing.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Patricia Hurtado|title=Cooperman's Lawyer Says He Faced Parallel Criminal Inquiry|url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-07/leon-cooperman-s-lawyer-says-he-faced-parallel-criminal-inquiry|agency=bloomberg.com|publisher=Bloomberg Markets|date=February 7, 2017}}</ref> In May 2017 Cooperman's firm agreed to a $4.9 million settlement with the SEC. As part of the agreement, Omega Advisers admitted no wrongdoing. As part of the settlement, Cooperman and Omega agreed to ongoing compliance monitoring until 2022.<ref name=":2" /> The monitoring includes being subject to an onsite compliance monitor with access to their electronic communications and trading records.<ref name=":2" /> In addition, Cooperman and Omega must submit monthly certifications that they were not aware of material nonpublic information prior to any securities trades.<ref name=":2" />
Following the settlement, Cooperman commented: "The process in my opinion was totally abusive. It's a problem that the government should address," and "My lawyers told me that the probability of my winning would be overwhelmingly high, that if I didn't win it had nothing to do with the merits of the case," he said. SEC officials declined to comment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/30/leon-cooperman-tells-cnbc-sec-case-was-extraordinarily-abusive.html|title=Leon Cooperman: I settled with the SEC because 'I'm wealthy' and an easy target|last=Cox|first=Jeff|date=May 30, 2017|website=CNBC|access-date=May 30, 2017}}</ref>
==Personal life== With his wife Toby, he has two sons, Wayne and Michael, and three grandchildren.<ref name=NJJewishNews>[http://www.njjewishnews.com/article/812/familys-5-million-gift-is-devoted-to-continuity#.UHrJX66unHo New Jersey Jewish News: "Family's $5 million gift is devoted to continuity - Cooperman Fund will help Birthright, camps, and teen philanthropy" by Johanna Ginsberg] February 10, 2010</ref><ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Wee|first1=Gillian|title=Cooperman Says Earning 13% in Stocks Takes 'Average IQ'|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-06-28/cooperman-says-earning-13-in-stocks-takes-average-iq-|accessdate=September 21, 2016|agency=Bloomberg Markets|publisher=bloomberg.com|date=June 28, 2012|quote=Despite being a billionaire, Cooperman, who has three grandchildren, says he has no plans to retire soon.}}</ref> Since the late 1970s, Cooperman has been a resident of the Short Hills neighborhood of Millburn, New Jersey,<ref>Delevingne, Lawrence. [https://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/21/insider-trading-accusations-for-leon-cooperman-a-long-fall-from-dizzying-heights.html "For Leon Cooperman, a long fall from dizzying heights"], CNBC, September 21, 2016. Accessed October 6, 2016. "Leon Cooperman is addicted to investing. The hedge fund manager's stock-junkie lifestyle starts at 5:15 a.m. on weekdays, when he wakes up in the Short Hills, New Jersey, house he's lived in for 36 years."</ref> but he spends the majority of his time in Boca Raton, Florida.<ref>{{Cite news|date=January 30, 2022|title=The moral calculations of a billionaire|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/01/30/moral-calculations-billionaire/|access-date=February 7, 2022|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en}}</ref> He has an honorary doctorate in finance from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/about-us/board/leon-cooperman|title=Leon G. Cooperman|publisher=columbia.edu|accessdate=September 21, 2016}}</ref>
In 2012, Cooperman was included in the 50 Most Influential list of ''Bloomberg Markets'' magazine.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-04/most-influential-50-in-2012-shows-turmoil-bloomberg-markets.html|title=Most Influential 50 in 2012 Shows Turmoil: Bloomberg Markets|author=Robert S. Dieterich|date=September 4, 2012|publisher=Bloomberg Markets}}</ref> ''Forbes'' listed Cooperman as one of the 40 Highest-Earning hedge fund managers in 2013.<ref>{{Citation|last=Vardi|first=Nathan|title=The 40 Highest-Earning Hedge Fund Managers & Traders 2013|date=February 26, 2013|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2013/hedge-fund-managers-13_land.html|magazine=Forbes}}</ref> In the following year, the publication listed him among the top 25.<ref>{{Citation|last=Vardi|first=Nathan|title=The 25 Highest-Earning Hedge Fund Managers And Traders|date=February 26, 2014|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2014/02/26/the-highest-earning-hedge-fund-managers-and-traders/|magazine=Forbes}}</ref>
In 2026, Cooperman was ranked on Forbes' "Self-Made 250: The Greatest Living Self-Made Americans" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knapp |first=Alex |title=Forbes Self-Made 250: The Greatest Living Self-Made Americans |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2026/04/09/forbes-self-made-250-the-greatest-living-self-made-americans/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
== Political and economic views == In recent years, Cooperman has primarily donated to Republican political campaigns.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/14/leon-cooperman-warren-wealth-is-tax-probably-unconstitutional.html|title=Leon Cooperman: Warren's wealth tax would lead to 'unnatural acts' and is 'probably unconstitutional'|last=Stankiewicz|first=Kevin|date=November 14, 2019|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=November 18, 2019}}</ref>
In November 2011, Cooperman gained attention for an open letter to U.S. President Barack Obama in which among other things charged the president with engaging in class warfare.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/258943/20111130/billionaire-leon-cooperman-sends-open-letter-president.htm Leon's Open Letter]. ''International Business Daily''. November 30, 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/a-rich-mans-grievance-with-obama/|title=It's Tone, Not Taxes, a Tycoon Tells the President|author=Andrew Ross Sorkin|date=December 6, 2011 |publisher=DealBook, The New York Times|accessdate=September 21, 2016|author-link=Andrew Ross Sorkin}}</ref>
In 2019, he criticized Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren's proposal to implement a wealth tax. He said it would lead to "unnatural acts, be near impossible to police, and is probably unconstitutional."<ref name=":1" /> He said that the stock market would drop by 25% if Warren was elected.<ref name=":1" /> In an interview on CNBC, Cooperman criticized the potential Warren wealth tax and its implications on his billion dollar fortune.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/04/leon-cooperman-tears-up-talking-about-america-elizabeth-warren.html|title='I care' — billionaire investor tears up talking about America, Elizabeth Warren and Donald Trump|last=Franck|first=Thomas|date=November 4, 2019|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=November 18, 2019}}</ref> His criticism of the hypothetical tax increase was then used as part of a Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign advertisement.
During the January 2021 GameStop short squeeze, Cooperman appeared on CNBC to discuss the situation, angrily saying it was caused by "people sitting at home getting checks from the Government". The checks were part of the United States response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also attacked President Biden, for whom he said he had voted, regarding potential capital gains tax increases, saying "the fair share is a bullshit concept" and "it was just a way of attacking wealthy people".<ref>{{cite web|author1=Joe DePaolo|title='BULLSH*T!' Hedge Fund Billionaire Leon Cooperman Rages Over GameStop Surge, Rips Small Investors for Having 'No Idea What They're Doing'|url=https://www.mediaite.com/news/bullsht-hedge-fund-billionaire-leon-cooperman-rages-over-gamestop-surge-rips-small-investors-for-having-no-idea-what-theyre-doing/|accessdate=January 29, 2020|date=January 28, 2020|website=Mediaite|language=en}}</ref><ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/28/leon-cooperman-on-gamestop-reddit-speculators-im-not-damning-them-but-it-will-end-in-tears.html Leon Cooperman on GameStop Reddit speculators: 'I'm not damning them' but it will 'end in tears'], ''CNBC''</ref> CNBC later cut that portion of the video from their online article about his appearance.
In October 2023, Cooperman decided to stop donating to Columbia University amid student's protests of Gaza war, “We have one reliable ally in the Middle East — that’s Israel. We only have one democracy in the Middle East — that’s Israel, okay? And we have one economy tolerant of different people — gays, lesbians, etc. And that’s Israel,” Cooperman said while speaking on Fox Business's ''The Claman Countdown''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Altus |first=Kristen |date=2023-10-26 |title=Billionaire Leon Cooperman pulling Columbia funding amid student protests: These kids have 'sh– for brains' |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/billionaire-leon-cooperman-pulling-columbia-funding-student-protests-kids-brains |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=FOXBusiness |language=en-US}}</ref> Cooperman also called for the firing of Professor Joseph Massad who described Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel as “awesome” and “astounding.”<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bohannon |first=Molly |title=Billionaire Leon Cooperman Cutting Off Donations To Columbia Over Student Protests Of Israel-Hamas War |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2023/10/26/billionaire-leon-cooperman-cutting-off-donations-to-columbia-over-student-protests-of-israel-hamas-war/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> He later said that "Columbia has been too slow to respond and to recognize these shitheads for what they are."<ref>{{Cite news |title='Bunker mentality' at Columbia lit protest spark that spread nationwide |author=Isaac Stanley-Becker |author2=Susan Svrluga |newspaper=Washington Post |date=14 May 2024 |access-date=14 May 2024 |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/05/12/columbia-protest-president-shafik-campus-tension/ |quote=Some influential donors wanted firmer action.“Columbia has been too slow to respond and to recognize these s---heads for what they are,” Leon Cooperman, a billionaire investor and Columbia Business School alumnus, said in an interview. Cooperman said he spoke one-on-one with Shafik several weeks before her congressional testimony, after he had threatened publicly to cut off contributions to the university. }}</ref>
==Philanthropy== Signatories of The Giving Pledge,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://givingpledge.org/PledgerList.aspx|title=Pledger List - The Giving Pledge|website=Giving Pledge|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref> Cooperman and his wife joined the cause in 2010, which is a commitment by the world's wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to charitable efforts.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/zuckerberg-and-icahn-join-buffett-and-gates-giving-pledge/ | work=The New York Times | title=Zuckerberg and Icahn Join Buffett and Gates on Giving Pledge List | date=December 9, 2010}}</ref>
Cooperman and his family committed $5 million in 2010 as a permanent fund intended to anchor activities supporting Jewish identity and continuity among young adults.<ref name=NJJewishNews /> The Cooperman Family Fund for a Jewish Future endowment of Birthright Israel, was the first endowment of this kind in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jfedgmw.org/maximum-potential/raising-jews|title=Raising Jews {{!}} Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ|website=jfedgmw.org|language=en-US|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref>
Cooperman donated $25 million to his alma mater, Columbia Business School, in 2011. The donation was given to support the construction of new facilities in New York's Manhattanville neighborhood, including a new facility for Columbia's Graduate School of Business.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/edwindurgy/2012/04/23/great-sense-of-gratitude-inspires-25-million-gift-from-hedge-fund-billionaire-to-alma-mater/|title="Great Sense Of Gratitude" Inspires $25 Million Gift From Hedge Fund Billionaire To Alma Mater|last=Durgy|first=Edwin|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref>
In April 2014, the Leon and Toby Cooperman Family Foundation pledged $25 million to the Saint Barnabas Medical Center for the construction of a new 200,000 square-foot Cooperman Family Pavilion.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.njbiz.com/article/20140408/NJBIZ01/140409837/saint-barnabas-medical-center-receives-largest-donation-in-its-history|title=Saint Barnabas Medical Center receives largest donation in its history|date=April 8, 2014|accessdate=May 5, 2015|publisher=NJBiz}}</ref>
In September 2021, the Leon and Toby Cooperman Family Foundation donated $100 million to the Saint Barnabas Medical Center which would be renamed to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergeron |first=Tom |date=2021-09-30 |title=RWJBH to rename flagship facility Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in honor of historic $100M donation |url=https://www.roi-nj.com/2021/09/30/healthcare/rwjbh-to-rename-flagship-facility-cooperman-barnabas-medical-center-in-honor-of-historic-100m-donation/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=ROI-NJ |language=en-US}}</ref>
Cooperman launched a scholarship funding program in 2015. The Cooperman College Scholars Fund assists high-achieving high school students pay for their college educations.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoinegara/2018/07/23/know-when-to-fold-em-billionaire-leon-cooperman-to-close-hedge-fund-after-big-comeback/|title=Know When To Fold 'Em: Billionaire Leon Cooperman To Close Hedge Fund After Big Comeback|last=Gara|first=Antoine|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.tcnj.edu/2015/04/24/tcnj-welcomes-cooperman-college-scholars/|title=Cooperman College Scholars pledges support for nearly two dozen Essex County teens {{!}} News|website=news.tcnj.edu|date=April 24, 2015 |access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref> At launch, the Cooperman College Scholars Fund partnered with four colleges and universities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania: The College of New Jersey, Rutgers, Rowan University, and Franklin & Marshall College.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/10/01/can-25-million-get-500-poor-kids-to-and-through-college|title=Can $25 Million get 500 poor kids to and through college?|last=|first=|date=October 1, 2015|website=US News|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref>
He is also a founding Master Player of the Portfolios with Purpose virtual stock trading contest.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/crossingborders/2012/12/01/when-quitting-is-not-an-option-how-you-can-find-purpose-and-fulfillment-through-your-career/|title=When Quitting Is Not An Option - How You Can Find Purpose And Fulfillment Through Your Career|last=Ziegler|first=Maseena|date=December 1, 2012|newspaper=Forbes|accessdate=December 27, 2012}}</ref>
He serves as a board member for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.<ref name="Forbes profile" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.damonrunyon.org/our-strategy/our-leadership|title=Our Leadership {{!}} Damon Runyon|website=damonrunyon.org|language=en|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref>
Cooperman is also a charitable member of the Songs of Love Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that records personalized music for those facing chronic illness.<ref name=":0" /> On June 7, 2017, Cooperman presented a One Million Dollar Four-Year Challenge Grant from The Leon and Toby Cooperman Family Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesledger.com/stories/2017/24/milliondollar_2017_06_16_q.html|title=Philanthropist's grant lifts spirits at Songs of Love|website=TimesLedger|language=en|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * https://www.omegaadvisers.com/
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooperman, Leon G.}} Category:Living people Category:1943 births Category:American billionaires Category:American financiers Category:American people of Polish-Jewish descent Category:Columbia Business School alumni Category:21st-century American philanthropists Category:Goldman Sachs people Category:Hunter College alumni Category:Businesspeople from the Bronx Category:Xerox people Category:American chief executives of financial services companies Category:Businesspeople from Millburn, New Jersey Category:Philanthropists from New York (state) Category:CFA charterholders Category:21st-century American Jews Category:Shareholder-rights activists Category:American financial company founders Category:American financial analysts