Nvidia board member and billionaire investor Tench Coxe and his wife Simone Coxe have pledged $100 million to support the development of a major new medical center in Austin, Texas, marking one of the largest donations in the history of the University of Texas.
The gift will help fund the University of Texas Medical Center, a project aimed at expanding access to advanced healthcare services in Central Texas. The couple said their decision was shaped by both personal experiences and a desire to improve healthcare options in the community where they now live.
One of UT's Biggest-Ever Donations
According to the University of Texas, the donation will support the creation of a comprehensive medical center that includes a new hospital for patients with complex and serious medical conditions, along with an expansion of the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The medical center is expected to open in 2030 and is designed to strengthen Austin's healthcare infrastructure while reducing the need for patients to travel elsewhere for specialized treatment.
“I hope in 25 years that people will say that UT has one of the best medical centers in the world, and it’s benefiting the whole community,” Coxe said in a video.
Why the Coxes Chose to Give
The donation is deeply connected to the family's own healthcare journey.
Their six-year-old son was successfully treated for Burkitt lymphoma at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford Medicine in 2003. Simone Coxe said that experience inspired the family to support healthcare initiatives that can help others receive life-saving treatment.
The couple also witnessed gaps in healthcare access in Austin and believed the region needed stronger medical infrastructure. “We have a close friend who had to travel to Houston [from Austin] for care she should have been able to get here at home,” Coxe said.
University officials estimate that up to 25% of people in Central Texas leave the region to seek treatment for serious medical conditions.
Vision for a New Healthcare Model
A key factor behind the donation was the couple's discussions with Claudia Lucchinetti, dean of the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas.
Coxe said her vision of combining cutting-edge research with patient care convinced him that the project could become transformative for the region.
“Having spent my career backing strong leaders, meeting Claudia made it clear: Supporting the vision for the UT medical center is exactly the opportunity Austin needed,” Coxe said.
The university said the unrestricted gift will allow leaders to direct funding where it is needed most, including staffing, construction, technology upgrades and expanding healthcare access.
Who Is Tench Coxe?
Coxe is one of the earliest supporters of Nvidia and joined the company's board in 1993. He served as managing director of venture capital firm Sutter Hill Ventures from 1989 to 2020 and played a role in backing Nvidia founder Jensen Huang during the company's early years.
Today, Coxe is the third-largest individual shareholder of Nvidia, behind Huang and investor Mark Stevens. According to Forbes, his estimated net worth stands at $7.7 billion.
The Coxes moved from Silicon Valley to Austin in 2020. Coxe is also a part-owner of Austin FC, the city's Major League Soccer club.
Encouraging Others to Give
Despite their wealth, the Coxes are known for keeping many of their charitable contributions private. In 2025, Coxe reportedly donated one million Nvidia shares worth more than $168 million to undisclosed recipients.
Simone Coxe said the couple hopes their latest gift inspires other donors to support ambitious projects, even when outcomes are not guaranteed.
“One of the things that happens with bigger gifts is that it de-risks it a bit for some people,” Simone said. “Our approach to philanthropy is to invest and believe, knowing that there’s a risk and not everything’s going to be perfect. We hope by making this gift, we can help encourage others to take that same view.”
Austin Medical Center Set for 2030 Launch
With construction and planning underway, the University of Texas Medical Center is expected to become one of the most significant healthcare developments in Texas over the coming decade.
Backed by the Coxes' $100 million contribution, university leaders hope the project will help establish Austin as a major destination for advanced medical care, research and cancer treatment while improving healthcare access for millions across Central Texas.
