Key Takeaways
- • David Tepper, founder of Appaloosa Management, spoke publicly about his Romanian roots at a New York charity gala attended by prominent Wall Street figures.
- • Tepper pledged USD 10 million to the Robin Hood Foundation at the event, which raised over USD 60 million according to Bloomberg.
- • Tepper tied his remarks to his grandfather, who left Romania for an education that never materialized and began working at age 13 in a cigar factory.
- • The story was originally published by Romania Insider on 15 May 2014 and updated on 12 August 2026, so the gala it describes predates the update.
Summary
American billionaire David Tepper, one of the most successful hedge fund managers in the world, spoke about his Romanian origins at a charity gala in New York that drew many of Wall Street's leading figures, according to Romania Insider. Tepper, the founder of Appaloosa Management, took the stage to solicit donations for the Robin Hood Foundation, which holds an annual fundraising event. The gala raised more than USD 60 million, according to a Bloomberg report cited by Romania Insider. Tepper himself donated USD 10 million to the foundation.
In his remarks, Tepper recalled his grandfather, who was born in Romania. "I was thinking of my grandfather. He was from Romania, his family sent him here with the promise he'd have a great education and he'd go to college and do great things, but he came here and there wasn't an education for him. He wound up working at 13 in a cigar factory," Tepper said. He argued that a foundation such as Robin Hood might have given his grandfather the chance to attend college had it existed at the time.
The article was originally published on 15 May 2014 and updated on 12 August 2026. The event it describes took place in 2014, and the coverage does not indicate any additional developments tied to the 2026 update.
In his remarks, Tepper recalled his grandfather, who was born in Romania. "I was thinking of my grandfather. He was from Romania, his family sent him here with the promise he'd have a great education and he'd go to college and do great things, but he came here and there wasn't an education for him. He wound up working at 13 in a cigar factory," Tepper said. He argued that a foundation such as Robin Hood might have given his grandfather the chance to attend college had it existed at the time.
The article was originally published on 15 May 2014 and updated on 12 August 2026. The event it describes took place in 2014, and the coverage does not indicate any additional developments tied to the 2026 update.
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