He wears a $15 watch, flies economy class and does not own a house or car. For years. few guessed that Chuck Feeney was one of the world’s biggest philanthropists, secretly giving away his billionaire fortune.
Born in New Jersey during the Depression to a blue-collar Irish-American family, Feeney co-founded Duty Free Shoppers (DFS), the world’s largest duty-free retail chain. He liked making money but not having it, and gave it away for years in strict secrecy.
Journalist Conor O’Clery’s new book “The Billionaire Who Wasn’t: How Chuck Feeney Secretly Made and Gave Away a Fortune”? (Public Affairs $26.95), reveals that Feeney may be destined to go down in history as one of the greatest American philanthropists.
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Witty, self-deprecating, frugal and astute, Feeney was listed by Forbes Magazine in 1988 as the 23rd richest American alive and worth $1.3 billion, richer than Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump. He wasn’t.
It’s good to see more people recognizing the importance of giving and philanthropy. Chuck Feeney, by giving furtively (giving secretly while living), has created an inspirational legacy that will last for many generations to come.
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It’s been said that the best charity is given so secretly that the left hand does not know what the right hand has given. Why? Because it’s not done for promotion, publicity, vanity, or accolades. It’s purely for God and the benefit of humankind.
I’ve heard it said before, and I believe it, that if you want to do something good for your soul, and your own sense of self-worth, help someone secretly and never tell them or anyone else, ever.