Early Life
Lynn Schusterman (née Rothschild) was born on January 21, 1939, in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in Oklahoma City. Growing up in a Jewish family, she experienced antisemitism. Schusterman attended the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.
Rise to Success
In 1962, she married Charles Schusterman. Charles founded Samson Resources Company in 1971, which became one of the largest privately held oil and gas companies in the United States. The company's success contributed significantly to the family's wealth. In 2011, under the leadership of their daughter Stacy, the family sold most of the company's assets for $7.2 billion.
Key Business Strategies
After the death of her husband Charles in 2000, Lynn took over leadership of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. Under Lynn's leadership, the foundation set up offices in Washington and Israel and created the Schusterman Fellowship and the Center for Leadership Initiatives.
Philanthropy
The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, founded in 1987, focuses on the global Jewish community, Israel, and the Schustermans' hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Schusterman's philanthropy supports Jewish identity and innovation, promotes inclusivity, and funds organizations like BBYO, Hillel, and Birthright Israel. The foundation has also contributed to educational institutions such as Brandeis University and the University of Oklahoma. Lynn Schusterman signed the Giving Pledge in 2011, committing to donate the majority of her wealth to charitable causes. She has been recognized for her work in strengthening Jewish identity, supporting Jewish innovators, expanding opportunities for service learning and promoting inclusivity.
