OpenAI’s Greg Brockman gave $5.5M to protect the home of an internet-famous bald eagle named Jackie

Craigslist founder Craig Newmark vowed to give away his fortune to his passions: combatting disinformation, election security, cybersecurity, and… pigeons.

And now OpenAI cofounder Greg Brockman and his wife, Anna, have donated $5.5 million to a fundraiser to buy land slated for development near some very famous eagles’ nest. 

The birds in question are Jackie and Shadow, the Big Bear Lake bald eagle pair whose live nest cam has drawn a global following. The Brockmans’ gift, announced by the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley, pushed a monthslong fundraising campaign past its $10 million goal, with only days left to spare before a purchase deadline. 

The money will buy Moon Camp, a 63-acre stretch of San Bernardino County forest and shoreline near the nest in Fawnskin, Calif., according to Friends of Big Bear Valley. The land had been slated for development, with 50 luxury homes and a marina planned.

“We are beyond grateful for the tireless support of so many people these past six months. This is a special community that has a real love for Jackie and Shadow’s wellbeing along with nature,” Jenny Voisard, spokesperson for FOBBV and fundraising lead, said in a statement.

The gift came together at the right time because Jackie’s life was in danger. She’d been rushed to the Ojai Raptor Center in mid-July after rescuers spotted her fighting with two younger eagles on the lakeshore, unable to fly.

Vets found her severely anemic, with inflammation affecting her kidneys. She received a life-saving blood transfusion, suffered a setback over the weekend when her blood values dropped, then rallied. By late July, the center said she’d been moved out of the ICU, which was an encouraging step. But vets still hadn’t figured out what made her sick.

As of Monday, however, the Ojai Raptor Center posted on social media saying “today’s bloodwork brought some difficult news.”

“Her packed cell volume (PCV) has dropped to 13%, which means her anemia has worsened since our last update,” they wrote. The vets will continue “additional advanced diagnostic testing” to continue to better understand her condition and figure out next steps in her treatment plan, the center said.

“We know how deeply so many of you care about this eagle, and we are grateful for your continued encouragement and support,” it added.

A grassroots campaign that couldn’t close the gap

The fundraiser was never supposed to hinge on one donor. Friends of Big Bear Valley launched it in February to stop the Moon Camp development on what conservationists call the last undeveloped sliver of Big Bear Lake’s shoreline. The San Bernardino Board of Supervisors had approved the project, with county officials saying it wouldn’t harm local bald eagles.

More than 25,000 donations poured in, although most were small. Together, they raised nearly half the $10 million target. The Brockmans then closed that gap.

The Brockmans, who did not respond to a request for comment, 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,” Anna Brockman said in a statement. “We are proud to be supportive.”

Where the Brockmans typically donate their money

The eagle gift is a rare moment of publicity for the Brockmans’ charitable giving because it’s largely dedicated to political donations. 

In 2025, Greg and Anna each gave $25 million to MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, ranking them among its biggest donors that year. 

Earlier this year, they also put $50 million into Leading the Future, a super PAC pushing for lighter AI regulation that Greg Brockman helped launch alongside Andreessen Horowitz cofounders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. All told, The Information reported the couple has given roughly $75 million to Trump-aligned super PACs.

Those donations have been a headache for OpenAI, which has stressed the money came from Brockman personally, not the company, and that it doesn’t direct or fund the PACs. 

“Our employees are free to participate in the political process in their personal capacities, including by donating or providing advice to candidates, campaigns, and political organizations,” the company said in a statement published June 1. “When they do that, they speak for themselves and not OpenAI.” 

So a $5.5 million check to save bald eagles is a little out of left field for them, but it will be interesting to see whether they continue to make local, environmentally inspired philanthropic gifts.