Genesis Prize

Genesis Prize laureates

More information Year, Laureate ...

Year	Laureate		Main occupations	Country	Rationale	Philanthropic theme
2014		Michael R. Bloomberg	mayor of New York City, co-founder and CEO of Bloomberg L.P.	United States	For his "track record of outstanding public service and his role as one of the world's greatest philanthropists".[1][16] Bloomberg donated his award to a subsequent competition, the Genesis Generation Challenge, to fund young adults' ideas to solve major problems.[17] Nine projects were selected from submissions: Building Up, eNable 3D Printed Prosthetics, Friends of the Arava Institute, LAVAN, Prize4Life, Sanergy, Sesame, Spark, and the Vera Fellowship Program.[18]	Social entrepreneurship based on Jewish values[19]
2015		Michael Douglas	actor, film producer	United States	For "his body of work as an actor and producer; his passionate advocacy as a UN Messenger of Peace, focusing on human rights, gun violence prevention, and nuclear anti-proliferation work; and for his passion for his Jewish heritage".[20][21][22] Douglas' award led to a program called "Avenues to Jewish Engagement for Intermarried Couples and their families," which dispersed $3.3 million in grants to organizations promoting the engagement of intermarried families in Jewish life.[20] A second set of grants was disbursed in 2016.[23]	Welcoming intermarried families in Jewish life[24]
2016		Itzhak Perlman	violinist	Israel / United States	For his "story of overcoming extraordinary personal challenges to excel as one of the world's great musicians and humanitarians". The prize was doubled by a donation from Roman Abramovich to $2 million.[25][26] Perlman re-gifted the funds to fund grant programs to support initiatives for people with disabilities in North America and in Israel, and for arts and culture.[26]	Improving the lives of individuals with special needs[27]
2017		Anish Kapoor	sculptor specializing in installation art and conceptual art	United Kingdom / India	As "one of the most influential and innovative artists of his generation".[28] Kapoor said he would direct his $1 million award to helping alleviate the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis and focus on expanding the Jewish community's engagement in a global effort to support refugees.[28][29]	Helping to alleviate the global refugee crisis[30]
2018		Natalie Portman	actress	Israel / United States	"In recognition of her commitment to social causes and deep connection to her Jewish and Israeli roots."[31] The prize was doubled by a donation from Morris Kahn to $2 million.[32] Portman said she would donate her award funds to philanthropic programs focused on women's equality, education, economic advancement, health, and political participation.[31][33]	Advancing women's equality[34]
2018[fn 1]		Ruth Bader Ginsburg	associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States	United States	For her "contribution to the development of a fair and just society that provides equal opportunity for all." The Genesis Prize Foundation announced that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Genesis Lifetime Achievement Award. The Award coincides with the fifth anniversary of the Genesis Prize.[36]	Advancing women's equality[37]
2019		Robert Kraft	CEO of the Kraft Group, owner of the New England Patriots	United States	"In recognition of his philanthropy and commitment to combatting anti-Semitism." Kraft's prize money was donated to initiatives that combat anti-Semitism and prejudice.[38]	Combating antisemitism and efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel[39]
2020		Natan Sharansky	Soviet dissident, Chairman of the Executive for the Jewish Agency	Israel	In recognition, as a "legendary advocate for freedom, democracy and human rights."[40][41] His prize money was used to fund innovative solutions and interventions to the COVID-19 pandemic.[42][43]	Assisting those affected by the COVID pandemic[44]
2021		Steven Spielberg	filmmaker, the most commercially successful director in history[45]	United States	For "his contribution to cinema, his philanthropic works and his efforts to preserve the memory of the Holocaust."[46] His prize money was donated to U.S. non-profits fighting for racial and economic justice.[47]	Fighting for racial and economic justice[48]
2021 Lifetime achievement honoree		Rabbi Lord Johnathan Sacks	Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth	United Kingdom	For "his extraordinary role in inspiring the next generation of Jews, and his illustrious life-long work as a teacher of Jewish values and an advocate of inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue."[49]
2022		Albert Bourla	veterinarian, CEO of Pfizer	Greece / United States	For "leadership, determination, and willingness to assume great risk, which resulted in the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine being ready in record time: months instead of years."[50]	Preserving the memory of Jewish communities destroyed during the Nazi occupation of Greece[51]
2023	Jewish activists and NGOs supporting Ukraine				For "working to uphold Ukraine's independence and alleviate the suffering of the people of Ukraine."[52]	Assisting Jewish activists and NGOs working to alleviate the suffering of the people of Ukraine [53]
2024	Israeli organizations supporting hostages and their families				For "providing treatment, counseling and support to the released and rescued hostages and their families."[54]	Supporting humanitarian assistance, treatment, rehabilitation and counseling for hostages rescued or released from Hamas captivity and their families[55]
10th Anniversary		Barbra Streisand	singer, actor, director	United States	For "six decades of Streisand's contributions to cinema and music and her commitment to improving the world."[56]	Supporting equity in women's health, fighting climate change, combatting disinformation, and aiding the Ukrainian people[57]
2025		Javier Milei	President of Argentina	Argentina	For “his unequivocal support of Israel during one of the most difficult times since the founding of the Jewish State”, in reference to the Gaza war.[58]	Fostering diplomatic, economic, and cultural cooperation between Israel and Latin American nations,[59] by envisioning the Isaac Accords.
2026[fn 2]		Gal Gadot	Actor, Producer	Israel / United States	For “her advocacy for hostages, support of Israel and empathy for all innocent people affected by the war."[60]	To help Israelis heal, rebuild, and recover.[61]

Close

2018 award

According to Haaretz, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was to be the only 2018 recipient. According to a committee source, actress Natalie Portman was added as a recipient after the Israeli Prime Minister's Office (PMO) learned that Netanyahu would have to publicly give the award to a critic of U.S. President Donald Trump. As consolation, Ginsburg was given a separate "Lifetime Achievement Award."^[62]

On November 7, 2017, the Foundation announced Portman as the 2018 laureate, and her decision to donate the $1 million in prize money to philanthropic programs focused on women's equality, education, economic advancement, health, and political participation.^[31][33] A month later, Israeli philanthropist Morris Kahn pledged another $1 million in Portman's honor, bringing the total gift to $2 million.^[32] The prize ceremony was canceled in April 2018 after Portman's representatives told the press that "recent events in Israel have been extremely distressing to her and she does not feel comfortable participating in any public events in Israel." Portman later claimed that she was not boycotting Israel, but that she didn't want to "appear as endorsing" Netanyahu, who was set to give a speech at the ceremony.^[63][32][64]

In January 2020, partly as a result of the Portman controversy, the Genesis Prize Foundation and the PMO terminated their agreement, ending the Prime Minister's participation in the ceremony.^[65][66]

In 2019, Prize Laureate Robert Kraft was named as one of more than 200 people involved in a Florida solicitation sting operation.^[67] Genesis Prize Foundation Chairman Stan Polovets said that the Prize to Kraft would not be rescinded, noting that in democratic countries "everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence."^[68] All charges against Kraft were later dropped.^[69]

Jonathan Tobin questioned whether giving an award to a famous recipient was a distraction from reinvigorating Jewish institutions.^[70]