Chuck Feeney
1931-2023
Founder of Duty Free Shoppes
It’s common for the great entrepreneurs to become great philanthropists. Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie built libraries across the US and the eponymous Carnegie Foundation endures over a century after his death. The Rockefeller and Ford Foundations continue to distribute their founders’ fortunes to this day. A more recent example is Microsoft founder Bill Gates whose Gates Foundation is the driving force behind many charitable and scientific endeavors.
These businesspeople turned philanthropist garnered so much fame as they built their fortunes that that their philanthropic endeavors were bound to be equally well known. But a notable exception to this rule was recently profiled by Bill Gates in his Gates Notes Blog: Chuck Feeney.
Chuck Feeney?
If you haven’t heard of him, don’t be surprised. Mr. Feeney, who founded airport retail giant Duty Free Shoppers, and later the investment firm General Atlantic Partners, wanted it that way. During his lifetime he was able to give away $8 billion but he and his wife lived in a rented apartment, shunned publicity, and conducted his giving activities so secretly that he become known as the “James Bond of Philanthropy.” He also influenced Bill Gates and Warren Buffet to take the “giving pledge” to distribute their fortunes during their lifetimes.
Mr. Gates writes “Chuck had four important traits that made him so special” and greatly influenced Gates own early giving. “I’m grateful I got to learn from him” says Gates. Spend a few minutes learning why Mr. Gates thinks “Chuck Feeney was one of the greatest philanthropists ever.“
While shunning the limelight, he eventually did permit author Conor O’Cleary to pen a book about his charitable work to inspire others. If you have interest in a deeper dive on a great man, check out “The Billionaire Who Wasn’t: How Chuck Feeney Secretly Made and Gave Away a Fortune. ”
Mr. Feeney died last month at the age of 92. RIP, Chuck Feeney. Thanks for showing us what charity is all about.
