 | |
| Formation | 1991; 34 years ago (1991) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Michael Milken |
| Type | Economic Think tank |
| Headquarters | Santa Monica, California,United States |
Region served | Global |
| Leader | Michael Milken (Chairman) |
| Revenue | $47,638,129[1] (2016) |
| Expenses | $42,559,621[1] (2016) |
| Website | www.milkeninstitute.org |
TheMilken Institute is an American independent, nonpartisan economicthink tank based inSanta Monica, California, with offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Miami, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. It publishes research and hosts conferences that apply market-based principles and financial innovations to social issues in theUnited States and internationally. The institute is a501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and presents itself as non-ideological.[2][3]
The institute was founded in 1991 byMichael Milken,[4] a formerDrexel Burnham Lambert banker who achieved financial success as a pioneer of "junk bonds,"[5] but attracted notoriety due to his subsequent felony conviction and prison sentence forU.S. securities law violations.[6][7] Milken formalized his philanthropic giving by founding the institute, with a mission to “increase global prosperity by advancing collaborative solutions that widen access to capital, create jobs, and improve health."[8]
The institute has published studies relating tohuman capital, access to capital, financial structures and innovations, regional economics, healthcare economics, andmedical research.[9][10][11] It hosts a series of conferences, including two annual conferences, financial innovation labs, forums, and private events. The Milken Institute Global Conference,[12] first held in 1998, is an annual forum focused on economic and social issues.[13][14] Speakers include figures from business, finance, government, education, and sports. The institute also hosts an annual State of the State Conference, which examines major issues facing the state of California with Milken joining elected officials in the state as a host speaker.[15]
The institute has held several events regardingopportunity zones created by theTax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. In May 2018,Treasury SecretarySteven Mnuchin instructed his staff to accept a non-low-income tract inStorey County, Nevada as an Opportunity Zone shortly after attending an Institute event inBeverly Hills with Michael Milken.[16] Milken was already an investor in the Nevada tract.[16] In August 2018, Mnuchin attended an Institute conference on opportunity zones inthe Hamptons with Milken and later accepted a flight to Los Angeles with Milken on his private jet.[16] Treasury later issued a regulatory guidance at the institute's request that allows prior investors to benefit from newly designated opportunity zones.[16]
In May 2024, the Milken Institute held its 27th Global Conference inLos Angeles, focusing on topics such as geopolitical tensions, climate change, andartificial intelligence.[17][18] Notable speakers includedJavier Milei, President ofArgentina;Queen Rania ofJordan; formerU.S. PresidentBill Clinton;Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of theInternational Monetary Fund; and formerPrime Minister of the United KingdomTheresa May. Asha Jadeja, founder of the Motwani Jadeja Foundation, was also a speaker, addressing themes related to India's economic emergence (the foundation was among the sponsors of the event).[19][20][21][22]
In September 2025, Milken opened the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD) in Washington, D.C., combining five buildings on15th Street next to theWhite House.[23][24][25] An interactive museum, MCAAD's exhibits and galleries feature artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators in health and education, among others. The museum also highlights the U.S. financial system.[26]
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