Warren Buffett gives away $37 Billion Dollars, 85% of his net wealth.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/25/magazines/fortune/charity2.fortune/index.htm
$37 Billion Dollars is
* GDP of Kenya
* Twice the budget of NASA
I think this is admirable. Not too many people have the guts to donate 85% of their net worth. I’m certainly nowhere close.
I’ve had 2 really great professors in college in 2 different semesters. One said it’s the corporation’s responsibility to give back to the society, because without that society, the corporation would not make a profit. The other said that it’s the corporation’s job to make profits, not to give away its money, and it is the individual that should ultimately make that decision himself, not make the entire company and shareholders go along with it. And since most companies do concentrate on making profits and have enough trouble doing so as is at times, it is truly refreshing to witness the latter at this stage in my life, when all the inspiration in the world points me towards selfish indulgence.
I think what Buffett is demonstrating here is that it is indeed possible to become the 2nd wealthiest person in the world and still find it in that same heart and mind to give away most of it. It’s the combination of the two attributes that seem to defy the other and the fact that he makes it look so simple is what’s intriguing to me.
And hopefully that same attitude and mindset spreads to other individuals who have doubted and rejected their part in the history of the world that will be written long after their passing.