{"id":17619,"date":"2026-07-26T08:42:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T03:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=17619"},"modified":"2026-07-26T08:42:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T03:42:41","slug":"open-ai-co-founder-drops-5-5-million-to-buy-land-near-big-bear-eagle-nest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=17619","title":{"rendered":"Open AI co-founder drops $5.5 million to buy land near Big Bear eagle nest"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-element=\"story-body\" data-subscriber-content=\"\">\n<p>With Big Bear eagle Jackie in intensive care for nearly a week battling an unexplained malady, fans of the Internet-famous bird and her mate Shadow were sorely in need of a silver lining \u2014 and just got one.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit that monitors the eagles, announced that OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife Anna donated $5.5 million to <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/environment\/story\/2026-06-17\/jackie-shadow-sandy-steers-memorial-moon-camp-fundraiser\">a fundraiser to buy land<\/a> slated for development near the pair\u2019s nest.<\/p>\n<p>The infusion of cash means the fundraising goal of $10 million is met.<\/p>\n<div class=\"enhancement\" data-click=\"enhancement\" data-align-right=\"\">\n<figure class=\"figure m-0\"> <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/4224f1e\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1006x976+0+0\/resize\/320x310!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe3%2F9e%2Fccce285c436f9b7654df2516f496%2Fme-anna-greg-brockman.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/71db772\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1006x976+0+0\/resize\/568x551!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe3%2F9e%2Fccce285c436f9b7654df2516f496%2Fme-anna-greg-brockman.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/885e742\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1006x976+0+0\/resize\/768x745!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe3%2F9e%2Fccce285c436f9b7654df2516f496%2Fme-anna-greg-brockman.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/e2d8e28\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1006x976+0+0\/resize\/1024x993!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe3%2F9e%2Fccce285c436f9b7654df2516f496%2Fme-anna-greg-brockman.jpg 1024w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/ab49cc3\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1006x976+0+0\/resize\/1200x1164!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe3%2F9e%2Fccce285c436f9b7654df2516f496%2Fme-anna-greg-brockman.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"100vw\"\/><img class=\"image\" alt=\"OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife Anna.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/f96772c\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1006x976+0+0\/resize\/320x310!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe3%2F9e%2Fccce285c436f9b7654df2516f496%2Fme-anna-greg-brockman.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/5925790\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1006x976+0+0\/resize\/568x551!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe3%2F9e%2Fccce285c436f9b7654df2516f496%2Fme-anna-greg-brockman.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/d1bdf4c\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1006x976+0+0\/resize\/768x745!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe3%2F9e%2Fccce285c436f9b7654df2516f496%2Fme-anna-greg-brockman.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/f2f3a59\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1006x976+0+0\/resize\/1024x993!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe3%2F9e%2Fccce285c436f9b7654df2516f496%2Fme-anna-greg-brockman.jpg 1024w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/1d7ae4e\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1006x976+0+0\/resize\/1200x1164!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe3%2F9e%2Fccce285c436f9b7654df2516f496%2Fme-anna-greg-brockman.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1164\" src=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/1d7ae4e\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/1006x976+0+0\/resize\/1200x1164!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe3%2F9e%2Fccce285c436f9b7654df2516f496%2Fme-anna-greg-brockman.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>   <\/picture>\n<div class=\"figure-content\">\n<p>OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife Anna donated more than $5 million to conserve land near famed Big Bear eagles\u2019 nest.<\/p>\n<p>(Friends of Big Bear Valley)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m so happy for this,\u201d said Jenny Voisard, website and media manager for Friends of Big Bear Valley. \u201cI think we needed a little bit of good news given Jackie\u2019s situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"enhancement\" data-click=\"enhancement\" data-align-center=\"\">\n<figure class=\"figure m-0\"> <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/b08788f\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4426+0+0\/resize\/320x236!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Fec%2Ff3087e00474c8b4aacc5b2e40d04%2Fgettyimages-1472649742.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/7e83739\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4426+0+0\/resize\/568x419!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Fec%2Ff3087e00474c8b4aacc5b2e40d04%2Fgettyimages-1472649742.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/748129f\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4426+0+0\/resize\/768x566!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Fec%2Ff3087e00474c8b4aacc5b2e40d04%2Fgettyimages-1472649742.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/cfff18d\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4426+0+0\/resize\/1024x755!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Fec%2Ff3087e00474c8b4aacc5b2e40d04%2Fgettyimages-1472649742.jpg 1024w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/7c90ec9\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4426+0+0\/resize\/1200x885!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Fec%2Ff3087e00474c8b4aacc5b2e40d04%2Fgettyimages-1472649742.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"100vw\"\/><img class=\"image\" alt=\"Greg Brockman, right, speaks onstage at the 2023 SXSW Conference. \" srcset=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/26c672d\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4426+0+0\/resize\/320x236!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Fec%2Ff3087e00474c8b4aacc5b2e40d04%2Fgettyimages-1472649742.jpg 320w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/ea9ef2c\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4426+0+0\/resize\/568x419!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Fec%2Ff3087e00474c8b4aacc5b2e40d04%2Fgettyimages-1472649742.jpg 568w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/dcfbb1f\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4426+0+0\/resize\/768x566!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Fec%2Ff3087e00474c8b4aacc5b2e40d04%2Fgettyimages-1472649742.jpg 768w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/57a785b\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4426+0+0\/resize\/1024x755!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Fec%2Ff3087e00474c8b4aacc5b2e40d04%2Fgettyimages-1472649742.jpg 1024w,https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/15f12cd\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4426+0+0\/resize\/1200x885!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Fec%2Ff3087e00474c8b4aacc5b2e40d04%2Fgettyimages-1472649742.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" width=\"1200\" height=\"885\" src=\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/15f12cd\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4426+0+0\/resize\/1200x885!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Fec%2Ff3087e00474c8b4aacc5b2e40d04%2Fgettyimages-1472649742.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>   <\/picture>\n<div class=\"figure-content\">\n<p>Greg Brockman and Laurie Segall speak onstage at the 2023 SXSW Conference. <\/p>\n<p>(Errich Petersen\/Getty Images for SXSW)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p>The Brockmans are among the thousands across the globe who have watched Jackie and Shadow bond and raise chicks via webcams installed by the nonprofit, Anna Brockman said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey inspire perseverance and a sense of connectedness to something greater, to nature,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are proud to be supportive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The nonprofit has long maintained that the land \u2014 <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/enewspaper.latimes.com\/infinity\/article_share.aspx?guid=d9281394-ee55-4be7-aa95-2258e6ef4071#:~:text=Michael%20Perry%2C%20a%20spokesman%20for,Moon%20Camp%20project's%20potential%20impacts.\" target=\"_blank\">reportedly the last undeveloped sliver<\/a> of Big Bear Lake\u2019s shoreline \u2014 represents critical foraging habitat for the eagles. Last September, the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors approved a 50-home and 55-slip marina project on it called Moon Camp, with county officials saying it wouldn\u2019t harm the raptors.<\/p>\n<p>While the nonprofit is best known for turning Jackie and Shadow into celebrities by livestreaming their nest, it grew out of an effort to stop the same project 25 years ago. In February, it launched an ambitious fundraiser to prevent the development once and for all.<\/p>\n<p>Even with 25,000 donations, it didn\u2019t crack the halfway mark. Most of them were small. Then just before the Fourth of July, Anna Brockman reached out to the nonprofit through a representative, Voisard said. After several calls, the generous gift was set.<\/p>\n<p>But before it was publicly announced, tragedy struck the nest. According to ABC 7, a couple spotted Jackie sparring with two younger eagles on the lake shore last Friday. When she hadn\u2019t returned to the nest that night, they reached out for help \u2014 leading to her rescue and transfer to the Ojai Raptor Center.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, she\u2019s undergone a battery of tests and<a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/environment\/story\/2026-07-23\/still-in-critical-condition-big-bear-eagle-jackie-receives-life-saving-blood-transfusion\"> even received a live-saving blood transfusion<\/a>. Yet experts are still trying to determine the cause of her condition, which includes severe anemia. So far, the raptor center says it has ruled out lead poisoning and the presence of swallowed objects, among other things. As of Thursday, she was in critical condition and receiving intensive care, though she\u2019d regained some of her feisty energy. The center expects to provide an update again Monday, \u201c[i]f all goes according to plan.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>As fans wait on tenterhooks for more health updates, many are celebrating the fundraising win.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho\u2019s cutting onions??\u201d one commenter <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/4448513512026762\/\" target=\"_blank\">wrote on Facebook<\/a>, along with a crying emoji.<\/p>\n<p>Someone replied, \u201cI think we all are.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>With all the donations, the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust can purchase the parcel, as well as cover closing costs, taxes, legal fees and some maintenance of the land.<\/p>\n<p>Previously, the land trust was going to transfer the land to the U.S. Forest Service but has opted not to do that, Voisard said. She suggested they no longer trust federal officials to protect it.<\/p>\n<p>Sandy Steers, former executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley, helped broker the deal between the land trust and developers. She passed away shortly before the fundraiser launched, leaving her conservation mission in the hands of her colleagues and supporters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know she\u2019s proud and happy,\u201d Voisard said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow we just want Jackie to come home and enjoy her Moon Camp.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With Big Bear eagle Jackie in intensive care for nearly a week battling an unexplained malady, fans of the Internet-famous bird and her mate Shadow were sorely in need of a silver lining \u2014 and just got one. On Friday, Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit that monitors the eagles, announced that OpenAI co-founder&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17620,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/84a0475\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/2329x1223+0+76\/resize\/1200x630!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F17%2Ffb7c9c4a4c9abfdaf53b628ef134%2Fshadow-and-jackie.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17619"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17619\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}