09/14/2025
Robert F. Smith, a billionaire philanthropist, made history in 2019 when he stunned the graduating class of Morehouse College with a life-changing gift: he pledged to pay off the student loans of all 396 graduates, a total of $34 million. But he didn’t stop there. Smith also promised to mentor them, asking only one thing in return—that they “pay it forward.”
Smith’s own story begins in Denver, Colorado, where he was raised in a hardworking family. Both of his parents were educators who instilled in him a deep belief in the power of learning. Driven by that foundation, he excelled in his studies, became an engineer, and later built a remarkable career in business. In 2000, he founded Vista Equity Partners, which would grow into one of the most successful private equity firms in the world.
Philanthropy has always been central to Smith’s life. Over the years, he has donated generously to schools, museums, and youth programs, continually investing in opportunities for others. What makes his story so powerful is that, even after achieving extraordinary wealth, he has never lost sight of his roots—or his responsibility to lift others up along the way.
