WhatsApp co-founder donates $200 million to Jerusalem hospital, largest ever to Israeli medical center

WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum has made an unprecedented donation of $200 million to Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center, marking the largest single contribution ever received by an Israeli hospital. This significant philanthropic gesture comes amid the ongoing conflict in the region.

Koum, through The Koum Family Foundation, stated, "This gift reflects our confidence in a future of medical innovation and research that will benefit patients in Israel and around the world." The donation surpasses a previous record of $180 million given to Rabin Medical Center in August 2025. The funds are earmarked for the construction of a new 24-story building, spanning over 1.5 million square feet, which will house state-of-the-art surgical and emergency care facilities.

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This gift reflects our confidence in a future of medical innovation and research that will benefit patients in Israel and around the world.

Following the donation, the hospital will officially be known as Koum Shaare Zedek Medical Center. Shaare Zedek President Prof. Jonathan Halevy hailed the gift as a "special moment" in the hospital's 124-year history, calling it a "remarkable confidence in our hospital, our staff, the city of Jerusalem, the nation of Israel, and a heartfelt embrace of Zionism."

This substantial contribution follows a $50 million gift from The Koum Family Foundation to Soroka Medical Center last year after it was targeted by an Iranian ballistic missile. Koum, born in Kyiv to a Jewish family, moved to the U.S. at 16 and has a history of supporting various Jewish and Israeli causes, as well as educational institutions. He has previously expressed a preference for being known for creating useful products rather than being labeled an entrepreneur.

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This is truly a special moment in Shaare Zedek Medical Center’s 124-year-old history. This record donation by The Koum Family Foundation reflects remarkable confidence in our hospital, our staff, the city of Jerusalem, the nation of Israel, and a heartfelt embrace of Zionism.