Eli Broad, the wealthy donor and namesake of Michigan State University’s College of Business and the Broad Art Museum at MSU, has died at the age of 87.
Broad was a Detroit native, a graduate of MSU (then called Michigan State College), and a self-made billionaire who founded two Fortune 500 companies.
His death is being reported by the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times.
The cause of death has not been announced.
In a statement Friday night MSU President Samuel Stanley Jr. praised Broad's commitment to helping others.
“Eli was a selfless, kindhearted man who dedicated much of his life to making the lives of others better,” Stanley said. “From the classroom to the board room, altruism was the backbone of his mission, and Eli embodied what it means to be a Spartan.”
Broad is survived by his wife Edythe and two sons.
The Broad College of Business held four in-person commencement ceremonies Friday, and one more is scheduled on campus Saturday morning.