It’s all about the Benjamins, baby
Billionaires signed “The Giving Pledge” to give half of their wealth to philanthropic organizations in their trusts. Hopefully they will give to better causes than some of the ones on the Pepsi Refresh Project (i.e. buying Nintendo DSi’s for second graders).
While this is great for the future of third world countries and the green movement, we shouldn’t consider themselves saints or anything. I mean, I would gladly give away half of my earnings if I died tomorrow. Now, what is half of zero dollars?
Thus far, Bill Gates has signed up 38 billionaires in what could be the biggest philanthropic project ever. (What will Oprah have to say about that?) Signers include:
Laura and John Arnold
Michael R. Bloomberg
Eli and Edythe Broad
Warren Buffett
Michele Chan and Patrick Soon-Shiong
Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg
Ann and John Doerr
Larry Ellison
Bill and Melinda Gates
Jon and Karen Huntsman
Joan and Irwin Jacobs
George B. Kaiser
Elaine and Ken Langone
Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest
Lorry I. Lokey
George Lucas
Alfred E. Mann
Bernie and Billi Marcus
Tashia and John Morgridge
Pierre and Pam Omidyar
Bernard and Barbro Osher
Ronald O. Perelman
Peter G. Peterson
T. Boone Pickens
Julian H. Robertson, Jr.
David Rockefeller
David M. Rubenstein
Big givers like Warren Buffet has pledged to give 99% of his earnings living and after. If my calculation is correct, that is 46.5 billion dollars that is going to the less fortunate, which is almost as much as the top five countries’ GDP combined. Holy dollar-signs, Batman! Thank goodness billionaires are actually giving to, hopefully, organized and credible charities as opposed to some other money-makers. (see: NY magnate leaves her dogs billions) Now, the impoverished will be able to rest their heads at night atop pillows filled with Benjamins.
