The Genesis Prize Foundation has selected Argentine President Javier Milei as its 2025 laureate. This choice marks the first time in the prize’s history that a head of state has received the prestigious $1 million award, recognizing President Milei’s extraordinary advocacy for Israel and his pursuit of justice for Jewish victims of terror.

The award continues the foundation’s tradition of significant philanthropic work. Since its inception, the foundation has had a substantial philanthropic impact, generating over $50 million for more than 230 nonprofit programs in 31 countries. 

This year’s selection holds special weight in the current global context. “Since Oct. 7, President Milei has been without a doubt one of Israel’s staunchest supporters,” stated Stan Polovets, co-founder and chairman of The Genesis Prize Foundation. “When many of its allies remained quiet or condemned, pressured and — in some cases — sanctioned Israel, President Milei stood strong with Israel and was its most visible, vocal, and unequivocal supporter.”

President Milei has demonstrated his commitment to pursuing justice: He has pledged to bring the culprits responsible for the AMIA and Israeli Embassy bombings in Argentina in 1992 and 1994, respectively, to justice and recently ordered declassification of intelligence regarding the unexplained death of Alberto Nisman, the special prosecutor responsible for the AMIA bombing investigation. 

How Javier Milei is transforming Argentina’s economy

In addition to his support for Israel and Argentina’s Jewish community, President Milei was recognized for his successes in stabilizing his country’s economy during his first year in office.

Milei’s inaugural year as Argentina’s president was characterized by bold economic changes that sparked both support and controversy. Taking office amid a deep financial crisis, the libertarian president inherited a nation grappling with a staggering 211% annual inflation and a poverty rate over 40%.

The cornerstone of Milei’s economic overhaul was a nearly 30% reduction in public expenditure, achieved largely through deep cuts to subsidies for energy, utilities, and other essential services. These measures have stabilized the macroeconomic situation, with monthly inflation falling below 3% — the lowest in four years. The dramatic fiscal cuts also led to the country achieving its first budget surplus since 2008.

President Milei’s personal journey

Milei’s path to the Genesis Prize has been transformative. Though raised Catholic, his discovery of his Jewish heritage through his grandfather’s revelation about the grandfather’s Jewish mother sparked a profound connection to Judaism. This connection deepened further with the discovery that his great-great-grandfather was a rabbi, adding another layer to his family’s Jewish history.

Under Argentine Rabbi Axel Wahnish’s guidance, whom Milei later appointed as Argentina’s ambassador to Israel, the president has fully embraced Jewish traditions. He regularly studies the Torah, participates in prayer services, and has installed a mezuzah on his office doorpost. Cabinet meetings often begin with discussions of the week’s Torah portion, reflecting his commitment to integrating Jewish values into his leadership.

During Milei’s February 2024 visit to Kibbutz Nir Oz, Israeli President Isaac Herzog explained, “Argentina was the first Latin American country to recognize the State of Israel in February 1949. Because of my dear friend Javier Milei, relations are now stronger than ever.”

Milei has a unique position among world leaders. Stan Polovets stated, “In contrast to the anti-Israel stance held by many of his predecessors and heads of other countries in South America, President Milei declared it a moral imperative to support the only Jewish state and called for other world leaders to do the same. Most Israelis refer to him as ‘our hero.'”

Genesis Prize Laureates embrace Stan Polovets’ Vision of philanthropy

Upon receiving the award, Milei expressed his gratitude. “I am deeply honored to receive the Genesis Prize. My admiration for Israel, its history, and its people is deep-rooted and sincere,” he stated. “The Jewish people have demonstrated time and again that resilience and the constant defense of freedom are the keys to overcoming any challenge.”

Throughout The Genesis Prize Foundation’s history, laureates have redirected their $1 million prize toward philanthropic causes. Stan Polovets noted that Genesis is “the only foundation awarding an annual $1 million to an individual who does not take the money but turns around and invests it back into the community, often doubling or tripling the contribution with the help of matching donors.” True to form, Milei has pledged to direct his award toward initiatives promoting freedom and liberty worldwide.

This latest selection adds to an impressive roster of previous laureates, including Michael Bloomberg, Michael Douglas, Itzhak Perlman, Sir Anish Kapoor, Natalie Portman, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Robert Kraft, Natan Sharansky, Steven Spielberg, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Albert Bourla, and Barbra Streisand. The foundation also has recognized collective achievements, such as Jewish activists supporting Ukraine and Israeli organizations assisting hostages and their families.

“Our foundation mounted an international public awareness campaign to ensure that the plight of the hostages remains on top of the agenda of global leaders,” Stan Polovets told The Jerusalem Post. “We funded legal expenses for hostage families who traveled to the Hague to present thousands of pages of evidence and personal testimony in their lawsuit against Hamas terrorists at the International Court of Justice.”

The foundation will continue to support hostage organizations while also working with President Milei on his philanthropic initiative.


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