David G. Booth Biography, Age, Net Worth, Career, Wife, and Philanthropy

David G. Booth is a billionaire investor, visionary asset manager, and one of the most influential philanthropists in American higher education and sports. Best known as the co-founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), Booth revolutionized the investment industry by bringing academic financial theories into real-world portfolio management. Over his decades-long career, he has grown DFA into a global investment powerhouse and earned recognition not only for his business acumen but also for his extraordinary generosity.

Full Name	David Gilbert Booth
Date of Birth	December 2, 1946
Age	78 (as of 2025)
Birthplace	Lawrence, Kansas, United States
Education	BA (1968) & MS (1969) – University of Kansas; MBA (1971) – Univ. of Chicago Booth School of Business
Career	Co-founder (1981) & Chairman – Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA)
Philanthropy	$300M gift to Univ. of Chicago (2008); Stadium & athletics support to University of Kansas; 2017 $50M pledge; 2025 $300M gift to KU Athletics
Family / Personal	Married Suzanne Deal Booth (1998; later divorced); children: Chandler and Erin Booth

1. Early Life & Education

Born in Lawrence, Kansas, Booth completed his undergraduate (1968) and master’s (1969) degrees in economics/business from the University of Kansas. Motivated by advanced financial theory, he pursued an MBA at the University of Chicago (1971), where he met future DFA co-founder Rex Sinquefield and worked with Eugene Fama.

2. Building DFA and Investing Innovation

In 1981, Booth co-founded Dimensional Fund Advisors with Rex Sinquefield, pioneering the practical implementation of academic financial theory. Under his leadership—as CEO and later executive chairman until 2017—DFA grew into a global investment powerhouse with over $853 billion in assets managed and more than 1,500 employees.

3. Philanthropic Impact

Booth’s generosity has reshaped elite institutions. In 2008, his $300 million gift transformed the University of Chicago’s business school, resulting in its renaming as the Booth School of Business.
His philanthropy extended to the University of Kansas, his alma mater:

• A $50 million pledge in 2017 helped launch stadium renovations (David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium).
• In 2025, he delivered a groundbreaking $300 million donation to KU athletics—the largest in school and college-sports history—earmarking $75 million for the Gateway District (stadium, hotel, housing, retail) and the remainder as ongoing support for athletic programs.

4. Personal Life & Values

Booth married art conservator Suzanne Deal in 1998; they later divorced. They have two children, a son named Chandler and a daughter, Erin. Wikipedia+1
Known for his humility, Booth emphasizes purposeful generosity over wealth accumulation. He encourages reflection beyond finance, notably urging people to spend more time on “the rest of your life.”

FAQs

1. How old is David G. Booth?
Born December 2, 1946, he is 78 years old as of August 2025.

2. What is his net worth?
Estimates range between $2.9 billion (Forbes) and $5 billion (CelebrityNetWorth), with other sources citing figures between $2–2.9 billion.

3. What is his educational background?
BA (1968) & MS (1969) from University of Kansas; MBA (1971) from University of Chicago.

4. What is Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA)?
An investment management firm founded by Booth in 1981, known for applying academic financial theories (e.g., efficient markets, factor investing) in asset management.

5. What major philanthropic contributions has he made?

• $300M to University of Chicago Booth School of Business (2008).
• $9M (2004), $50M (2017), and $300M (2025) to University of Kansas athletics and campus projects.
• Additional support for cultural institutions including MoMA, Georgetown, and UT Austin.

6. Is he married? Does he have children?
He married Suzanne Deal in 1998; they later divorced. They have two children — a son, Chandler, and a daughter, Erin.