Jami Gertz and Tony Ressler just reshaped the Los Angeles art scene. The billionaire couple made a massive philanthropic statement on April 16, 2026, during the opening gala for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s new David Geffen Galleries. They donated $50 million to the institution. The museum immediately recognized the historic gift by officially naming its new south wing the Ressler Family Wing, according to an artthreat.net report.
It was a major moment for the couple. Gertz walked the red carpet in an all-white botanical coat dress by Libertine and carried a Khaite studded bag. Ressler wore a classic black tuxedo. It marked a rare public appearance for the former Hollywood actress, highlighting her total transition into one of the most powerful financial forces in the country. The April 2026 gala hosted over 820 guests. The event itself raised a record $11.5 million for the museum’s ongoing operations.
Gertz is a familiar face to fans of ’80s and ’90s pop culture. She starred in hits like Sixteen Candles, The Lost Boys, and Twister, and famously played the woman who couldn’t “spare a square” on Seinfeld. But she quietly left the traditional entertainment industry behind to build an empire. Today, she holds an estimated $8 billion net worth, completely dwarfing the fortunes of her A-list peers.
Her financial path is heavily misunderstood. Gertz was the primary earner when she married Ressler in 1989. She used her acting salary to buy their first house and fund their early life. Ressler later co-founded private equity giants Apollo Management and Ares Management, creating massive generational wealth. They eventually moved into major sports ownership. In 2015, the couple purchased the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks for $720 million. Gertz remains highly active in the basketball organization and frequently appears on television to represent the franchise during the NBA draft lottery.
The LACMA donation cements a complete life shift. A teenage actress discovered by Norman Lear has turned into an elite philanthropic titan. Her $50 million check does more than just put her family’s name on a museum wall. It proves that the quietest exits from Hollywood often build the loudest legacies in the real world.