On Oct. 18, 1970, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation was founded. The MacArthur’s business interests included Bankers Life and Casualty and real estate holdings in Florida, New York, and Chicago. When John died of cancer Jan. 6, 1978, the Foundation assumed his assets, estimated at $1 billion.

MacArthur is one of the nationﾒs largest independent foundations with assets of approximately $5.8 billion and annual giving of approximately $215 million.