Julian H. Robertson, Jr.
Donor of Our Foundation
The Blanche & Julian Robertson Family Foundation was endowed with an initial gift of $18 million from Julian H. Robertson, Jr. of New York, the son of Blanche and Julian Robertson in whose memory the foundation is named. Since the foundation’s establishment in 1997, Mr. Robertson has contributed an additional $18 million to its asset base. A 1955 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Mr. Robertson is also a hedge fund manager, active philanthropist, environmentalist, proprietor of world class golf resorts, and vineyard owner.
Prior to co-founding Tiger Management in 1980, Mr. Robertson enjoyed a two-decade career with Kidder, Peabody & Company. There he began as a sales trainee and rose to become chief executive officer of Webster Management Corporation, an investment advisory subsidiary of Kidder, Peabody & Company.
From an initial capital investment of $8 million, Mr. Robertson built Tiger Management into the world’s largest hedge fund, with more than $23 billion in capital. Tiger Management compounded at a gross rate of 31.5% between its founding in 1980 and its closing in 2000. Today, Mr. Robertson maintains the firm to manage his own investments and to seed independent hedge funds run by high-achieving, young managers.
 In 1996, Mr. Robertson and his late wife, Josie, founded the Robertson Foundation, based in New York City, to focus on large-scale, domestic, high-impact grants in education, the environment, religion, and medicine. Among the foundation’s major initiatives are active support of New York City’s public education reform, a merit-based scholarship program for Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill, and market-based solutions to combat global warming.
In 2000, Mr. Robertson created Kauri Cliffs, a luxury lodge and golf course on New Zealand’s northern coast. In 2004, he opened a second course, Cape Kidnappers, in Hawke’s Bay on New Zealand’s North Island. Golf Magazine ranked both courses among the top 100 in the world. Mr. Robertson also owns two New Zealand wineries: Te Awa Farm and Dry River.
In January 2010, Mr. Robertson was named New Zeland's first honorary knight. He was given the title of honorary knight companion of the New Zeland Order of Merit for his "services to business and philanthropy." The order is awarded to those "who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious serivce to the Crown and the nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions, or other means."
Mr. Robertson is a member of the board of trustees of the Rockefeller University, Catawba College, the Environmental Defense Fund, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. He is also vice-chairman and former president of the board of trustees of the Cancer Research Institute, a member of the Executive Committee of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York, and member of the National Board of Advisors of the Children’s Scholarship Fund. Mr. Robertson has three sons and resides in New York City.
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