Now that's a lot of money.

Other Possibilities

Although we do not want to invalidate the above estimate, there have been several ideas on how the calculations could be altered.

For example, some of the $123 billion could be offset by selling to a third party the complete rights to the Harvard name.

The donor could sell these rights to another college which may be struggling with fund-raising.

But since the name might be too expensive for these fictitious struggling schools, it might be better to sell the name to the private sector, Parsons speculates.

Indeed, this is a valiant idea. An entire Harvard industry could be born.

Can it Happen?

Well, that depends on who you ask and who you believe.

"I don't believe the President and Fellows of Harvard College would approve of a name change for any amount of money," says outgoing Provost Albert Carnesale.

Carnesale says that protecting the Harvard name is of the utmost importance.

"[When I think of] the things that I've been able to do" as a Harvard professor, dean and provost, "passing that on would be more valuable than any pile of money," Carnesale says.

"There is not enough money," agrees Elizabeth C. "Beppie" Huidekoper, vice president of finance.

Huidekoper does, however, mention the possibility of renaming the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Former president Derek C. Bok says, however, that some things will always remain sacred.