April 15, 2025
Source: UChicago News, “UChicago Receives $100 Million Gift to Support Chicago Booth’s Executive MBA Program”
The University of Chicago has received a $100 million gift from alumnus Konstantin Sokolov, MBA ’05. In recognition, the school’s Executive MBA Program will be renamed the Sokolov Executive MBA Program.
“With this extraordinary gift, Konstantin Sokolov offers a powerful testament to the impact of the education provided by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business,” said President Paul Alivisatos.
“With Konstantin’s remarkable commitment, the Sokolov Executive MBA Program will continue to educate future generations of leaders,” said Madhav Rajan, dean of Chicago Booth.
The Executive MBA Program was founded in 1943 — known as XP-1 — with 52 students from the Chicago area, created in response to wartime demand for skilled administrators.
Sokolov, founder of IJS Investments, moved to the United States in 1997 at age 21. His gift coincides with his 20th MBA reunion.
“I am deeply honored by the school’s decision to give my name to its world-leading Executive MBA Program,” Sokolov said. “Two decades after my graduation, the lessons I learned, the experiences I gained, and the friendships I forged at Booth remain the foundation of my career and my life.”
In 2024, Sokolov made an earlier unrestricted gift, in recognition of which the student lounge at Booth’s Gleacher Center was named.
Context for the archive:
This announcement marks the largest single public commitment by Sokolov to date — $100 million — and places his name on a flagship program of one of the world’s most prestigious business schools. The press release highlights his “infrastructure investments” focus and his journey from Russian immigrant to American donor. Notably absent: any mention of the source of his wealth, his Armenian telecom holdings (Viva Armenia), his Swiss-Liechtenstein fund structures (Halcon, Gotthard), or his $11 million in 2025 MAGA Inc. donations. The University of Chicago has not disclosed any due diligence on the origin of the funds.
The university’s announcement does not specify the source of the $100 million “gift” — whether cash, stock, Amazon gift cards, or a pledge payable over time. The University of Chicago has not disclosed any due diligence on the origin of the funds.
🏷️ Tags: Konstantin Sokolov, University of Chicago, Chicago Booth, Executive MBA, Sokolov Executive MBA Program, $100 million donation, IJS Investments