Ashton Kutcher stuns Ellen DeGeneres with $4 million donation

It’s always great when Ellen DeGeneres gets a surprise of her own!

Earlier this year Portia de Rossi gifted her wife, and everyone’s favorite dancing talk show host, a super special 60th birthday gift. She began the building process for The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda, so that DeGeneres could be a part of protecting the indigenous mountain gorillas. While she was at it, de Rossi also set up a foundation in DeGeneres’ name called The Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund.

People's Choice Awards 2017 - Press Room
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Ashton Kutcher Drops By The Ellen Show Unannounced

This week, DeGeneres received yet another incredible surprise, this time from Ashton Kutcher. On an episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” Kutcher came by unannounced and delivered some exciting news.

Ellen’s Working Vacation

“I’m getting ready to go on vacation,” DeGeneres said after Kutcher asked what she’d been up to. “I’m going to Africa to start building the campus. I’m going to look at where I’m going to build my campus to save the mountain gorillas.”

DeGeneres has had a passion for this cause since she was a little girl, and that is why her wife, Portia de Rossi, thought of the perfect gift for her spouse’s 60th birthday.

When the news broke about the gift, the Fossey Gorilla Fund couldn’t wait to express its appreciation and anticipating to get the new project underway.

But, DeGeneres knew she’d need some help to get things going, so she had connected with a few friends, including Kutcher about the initiative. Kutcher saw it as an opportunity to give back to the person who gives to so many others.

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Alongside talent manager Guy Oseary, who’s also a friend of Degeneres, Kutcher told the host how their venture capital firm was investing in Ripple, a platform that can transfer money. According to Kutcher, Ripple cares about, “being an ethical company and giving a portion of this platform away to people that are doing good in the world.”

Who does that describe better then DeGeneres? Pretty much no one.

ellen degeneres medal photo
Getty Images | Alex Wong

“You never ask anyone for help — ever,” Kutcher told DeGeneres.

“I promised you [on your birthday] that I’d be there to help you and [Ashton and I] are brothers and we’re here to help you,” Oseary continued.

$4 Million At The Touch Of A Button

“You’re always thinking about everyone else and we wanted to show you that people are thinking about you,” said Kutcher. “So, on behalf of Ripple, we’d like to give you $4 million.”

And right there in front of the studio audience, Kutcher made an instant transfer on his smartphone, presumably using Ripple’s app. “We can actually transfer it into Rwandan francs right now, right here, and all we have to do is push this button and it’s in your account,” he explained.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjIj1F-BjC2/?hl=en&taken-by=theellenshow

DeGeneres Moved To Tears By Generous Gift

It was a beautiful moment in which DeGeneres was clearly stunned by the generous donation.

“Oh my God — that was the most amazing thing,” DeGeneres said with tears in her eyes. “I love you both so much — you know that.”

How could you not love her? Hopefully that donation goes a long way in her mission to help the gorillas thrive.

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About the Author
Chelsea Davis
Chelsea is a freelance journalist based in New York City whose passion revolves around traveling the world, immersing herself in foreign cultures, and of course, eating and drinking everything delicious. She covers all things food, drink and travel and is always up for an adventure, whether that means an adrenaline-pumping excursion or trying a new cuisine. Follow her on Instagram at @cheycheyfromthebay and keep up with her latest work at www.chelseadavis.com.

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