OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife, Anna, donated $5.5 million to protect the habitat of internet-famous bald eagles Jackie and Shadow. The donation helped secure a 63-acre forest and shoreline near the eagles' nest in California.
TL;DR
- Greg and Anna Brockman donated $5.5 million to save the habitat of Jackie and Shadow, internet-famous bald eagles.
- The donation helped reach a $10 million fundraising goal to purchase Moon Camp, a 63-acre stretch of land near the eagles' nest.
- The Brockmans' donation comes as Jackie, one of the eagles, is recovering from a severe health issue.
What happened
Greg and Anna Brockman donated $5.5 million to a fundraising campaign organized by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley. The campaign aimed to purchase Moon Camp, a 63-acre stretch of land near the nest of Jackie and Shadow, a pair of bald eagles famous for their live nest cam.
The Brockmans' donation helped the campaign reach its $10 million goal with days to spare. The land was slated for development, with plans for 50 luxury homes and a marina. The purchase will protect the last undeveloped sliver of Big Bear Lake's shoreline.
The donation comes as Jackie, one of the eagles, is recovering from a severe health issue. She was rushed to the Ojai Raptor Center in mid-July after being found unable to fly. Vets discovered she was severely anemic and had inflammation affecting her kidneys. She received a life-saving blood transfusion and was moved out of the ICU by late July.
Why it matters
This donation is a rare moment of publicity for the Brockmans' charitable giving, which is largely dedicated to political donations. In 2025, Greg and Anna each gave $25 million to MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC, and $50 million to Leading the Future, a super PAC pushing for lighter AI regulation.
The donation highlights the Brockmans' interest in nature and wildlife conservation. Anna Brockman described the donation as a nod to the birds they'd watched on the live cam like everyone else. 'They inspire perseverance and a sense of connectedness to something greater, to nature,' she said in a statement.
The donation also underscores the power of grassroots campaigns in conservation efforts. The fundraising campaign launched in February and received more than 25,000 donations, although most were small. The Brockmans' donation closed the gap and secured the purchase of the land.
Key facts
- Greg and Anna Brockman donated $5.5 million to protect the habitat of Jackie and Shadow, internet-famous bald eagles.
- The donation helped reach a $10 million fundraising goal to purchase Moon Camp, a 63-acre stretch of land near the eagles' nest.
- The land was slated for development, with plans for 50 luxury homes and a marina.
- Jackie, one of the eagles, is recovering from a severe health issue. She was rushed to the Ojai Raptor Center in mid-July after being found unable to fly.
- Vets discovered Jackie was severely anemic and had inflammation affecting her kidneys. She received a life-saving blood transfusion and was moved out of the ICU by late July.
- The Brockmans' donation is a rare moment of publicity for their charitable giving, which is largely dedicated to political donations.
- In 2025, Greg and Anna each gave $25 million to MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC, and $50 million to Leading the Future, a super PAC pushing for lighter AI regulation.
- The fundraising campaign launched in February and received more than 25,000 donations, although most were small.
Context
The donation highlights the growing trend of tech executives engaging in philanthropic efforts. Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, has also vowed to give away his fortune to his passions, including combatting disinformation, election security, cybersecurity, and pigeons.
The donation also underscores the importance of protecting wildlife habitats. The purchase of Moon Camp will protect the last undeveloped sliver of Big Bear Lake's shoreline and preserve the habitat of Jackie and Shadow, who have a global following.
The donation comes as OpenAI faces scrutiny over its employees' political donations. The company has stressed that the money came from Brockman personally, not the company, and that it doesn't direct or fund the PACs.