Billionaire developer Jeff Greene and his wife Mei Sze Greene are donating 1.3 acres of land valued at $80 million to Vanderbilt University’s planned downtown West Palm Beach campus, according to a March 23 report.
The donation expands the university’s footprint in West Palm Beach and is expected to have a significant impact on the design and scope of the new campus. The gift follows a previous donation of seven acres from the City of West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County in 2024.
Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said the additional land will reshape how the project is designed. “A cohesive campus, where classrooms, labs and community spaces come together seamlessly,” he said in a statement about the expanded site.
Vanderbilt University, which is based in Nashville and ranked as the #17 university nationally by U.S. News & World Report, plans to offer graduate programs in business and technology at its new Florida location. The campus aims to serve approximately 1,000 students with at least 200 employees, according to its development agreement with Palm Beach County. Construction costs are estimated at $520 million.
After securing initial approvals for construction last year, Vanderbilt launched a $300 million fundraising campaign followed by another phase seeking an additional $250 million. Other notable contributions include Related Companies chairman Steve Ross’s $50 million commitment and Frisbie Group’s Cody Crowell donating $5 million.
Greene previously agreed to donate five acres for a proposed University of Florida campus downtown but that plan was canceled after disagreements over naming rights. His latest gift continues strong support from real estate industry leaders for Vanderbilt’s expansion into West Palm Beach.
