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It’s truly remarkable when affluent individuals decide to share their wealth with those less fortunate. While figures like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are often praised for their philanthropic efforts, there are many other selfless individuals who chose to give away their entire fortunes during their lifetime. This list highlights those who couldn’t wait until after their passing to share their riches, earning them admiration and respect.
10. From Luxury Estate to Humble Hut
Jon Pedley lived the high life as a wealthy millionaire until a life-changing, alcohol-fueled car accident in 2002 left him in a coma, teetering on the edge of death. Against the odds, he recovered and underwent a dramatic transformation. The once-partying UK millionaire, who had indulged in drinking, womanizing, and other excesses, found faith and was deeply moved by the charity work of a close friend in Uganda.
In 2010, he chose to follow his friend’s example and gave everything up. He sold his $1.5 million farmhouse and businesses, then used the money to move to a modest mud hut in Uganda, where he founded a charity to help local orphans. This charity not only assisted local children but also offered a chance for British children with troubled pasts to come and help the locals, thereby finding their own healing. For Pedley, it was a cleansing break from his former life of indulgence. When asked if he was sure about his decision, he confidently stated, 'I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.'
9. The Luckiest Man in the World
Frano Selak, an 81-year-old Croatian music teacher, is often described as living an extraordinarily lucky life. He escaped death seven times, including surviving a plane crash, car accidents, and train mishaps, before winning nearly $1 million in a raffle. Despite this incredible fortune, Selak believed that true happiness didn’t come from money, and so in 2010, he chose to give away his newly acquired wealth.
Selak sold the luxurious house he had purchased on a private island and gave the proceeds, along with the rest of his raffle winnings, to his friends and family. He then returned to his original home in Petrinja, where he pledged to live a simpler, more humble life. With what little money remained, he built a memorial to the Virgin Mary, expressing gratitude for his astounding good fortune. He also reserved just enough funds for a hip operation so he could spend more quality time with his wife.
8. The Philanthropic Millionaire Columnist
Percy Ross, who passed away in 2001, was the son of a junk dealer from Minnesota and endured a tough early life. As an adult, he struggled with money, losing it just as easily as he earned it while taking on various odd jobs. Ross finally found financial success when he purchased and revived a failing plastic bag company. By 1977, he had already begun his charitable journey, donating over a thousand bicycles to children at a Christmas party. The following year, he gave away nearly $20,000 to parade-goers in his community.
Desiring to help more people, Ross launched a newspaper column in 1983 called 'Thanks A Million.' This column, which ran for 16 years in 800 newspapers, became a tremendous success, attracting thousands of readers who reached out to Ross for financial assistance. Ross would often personally hand money or checks to those he believed were in genuine need, though he was also firm in rejecting requests from individuals he felt could manage without his help.
In his final column in 1999, Ross revealed that he had given away $30 million—his entire fortune. Although he never regretted his approach to philanthropy, he expressed gratitude to his readers for the profound happiness he experienced in sharing his wealth. While some may view Ross as merely seeking publicity, he truly found joy in using his fortune to help those less fortunate.
7. Chinese Billionaire Left His Fortune to Charity, Not His Sons
In 2010, real estate and hotel magnate Yu Panglin announced that he had donated his remaining $470 million to his charitable foundation, which grew to a value of $1.2 billion. Yu made it clear that he did not intend to leave anything to his two sons and encouraged other wealthy individuals to follow suit. To ensure that the funds were used properly, he entrusted HSBC with their management and imposed strict instructions that no one could invest or inherit the money.
Yu later shared that his views on philanthropy were shaped by his difficult childhood. He grew up in poverty and saw firsthand the struggles of the poor. He also explained that he chose not to leave anything to his sons, fearing that such wealth could corrupt them. He believed they should be able to make their own way in life without relying on inherited money. His generosity has earned him the title of China’s top philanthropist for several consecutive years.
6. The Humble Billionaire Philanthropist
While many are familiar with the philanthropic efforts of figures like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, fewer know about Chuck Feeney. The Irish-American billionaire has consistently kept his charitable acts under the radar. Over the past 30 years, Feeney has quietly donated up to $6.2 billion from his considerable wealth to various global causes and charities.
Feeney is expected to exhaust the remaining $1.3 billion of his fortune by 2016, with his foundation slated to close by 2020. Having made his fortune in the duty-free retail industry, Feeney has long expressed his desire to die penniless. His hope is that his approach will encourage other wealthy philanthropists to share their wealth during their lifetimes, rather than waiting until death. Feeney’s life and actions even inspired both Gates and Buffett to establish their own charitable foundations.
5. The Russian Businessman-Turned-Monk
Yevgeny Pushenko had built a successful life for himself in the 1990s, after the Soviet Union dissolved and people gained the freedom to pursue their dreams. He took advantage of this newfound freedom to establish a clothing factory in his hometown of Vladivostok. His business flourished, and he even employed 50 workers at one point. Yet, despite his success, Pushenko felt a sense of emptiness. Up until then, he had not fully embraced his Orthodox Christian faith, which had long been repressed by the authorities.
Soon, over a few drinks with friends, Pushenko made a surprising decision—he handed over the keys to his factory. His friends were shocked, and the next day they learned from his parents that Pushenko had decided to leave it all behind to become a monk and embark on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Over the course of three years, he walked a remarkable 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles) across multiple countries until he reached his destination. Pushenko faced numerous hardships during his journey, from battling harsh weather to dealing with suspicious authorities, but he credited his faith for keeping him strong. After completing his pilgrimage, he adopted the name Athanassios and withdrew to Mt. Athos in Greece, where he now lives at a monastery.
4. The Millionaire Who Combats Cancer Through Charity
Although British businessman Brian Burnie had long been involved in charitable work, it wasn’t until he witnessed his wife’s battle with breast cancer that he felt compelled to do even more. In 2009, he sold his $26 million estate, including his home and luxury hotel, to fund a charity focused on transporting cancer patients free of charge from their homes to treatment centers. Burnie shared that his motivation stemmed from his desire to alleviate the suffering of cancer patients and hoped his actions would inspire other wealthy individuals to do the same.
Burnie’s generosity didn’t stop there. In 2012, he sold his second home, which was worth almost $1 million, where he and his wife had been living after selling their previous estate. All the proceeds from the sale were donated to support his expanding charity, and he has continued to live modestly ever since.
3. Millionaire Gives Money... And a Kidney
Zell Kravinsky realized that the life of wealth didn’t suit him. Although he had made millions from real estate investments in Pennsylvania, Kravinsky believed his wealth should serve a higher purpose than merely inflating his bank account. By 2001, he had donated a total of $45 million in money and land to various charitable causes. His friends and family believed he was being too impulsive, but Kravinsky was unbothered, stating that he could always earn more money, though he would likely give it away just as freely.
Yet Kravinsky felt that simply donating money and land wasn’t enough. So, he took his generosity even further by giving one of his kidneys to a total stranger. His decision was met with a wide range of reactions, from admiration to disbelief. Even his wife threatened to leave him, but this was later resolved when the famous singer Pat Boone, who admired Kravinsky’s act, urged her to forgive him for being overly generous. Kravinsky himself stated that he would gladly donate any part of his body again if someone needed it.
2. The Texas Tycoon Who Died In A Small Room
George Carroll, born in 1855, grew up in Louisiana before moving with his family to Beaumont, Texas, where his father established a chain of lumber businesses in 1868. Carroll worked alongside his father and eventually took over the family business. In 1892, he made a wise investment in an oil-drilling company, which soon made him extremely wealthy.
However, Carroll soon realized that the oil boom was leading the local residents towards excess and vice. He tried to combat the town’s growing decadence by unsuccessfully running for political office on several occasions. A devout Baptist, Carroll generously donated to the local Baptist church and university. He also founded the local YMCA, where he became both its leader and main benefactor. It’s believed that Carroll gave away all of his wealth during his lifetime, eventually passing away at 80 in a modest room inside the very YMCA building he had helped fund.
1. Film Director Exchanges Hollywood Lifestyle For Simpler One
Although Tom Shadyac once lived the high life that came with Hollywood fame, starring in successful films like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Nutty Professor, he found himself feeling unfulfilled. Despite the fame and fortune, he struggled with a deep sense of emptiness, which was only amplified by a life-changing cycling accident in 2007 that made him reflect on his own mortality.
In a revealing interview with Oprah, Shadyac shared that he had discovered the true secret to happiness: living within your means and sharing your abundance with those in need. For Shadyac, this shift in mindset led him to swap his luxurious mansions and private jets for a humble mobile home and a bicycle. He now dedicates himself to spreading this simple, generous way of living, which he claims has left him feeling more fulfilled and richer than when he was caught up in Hollywood's fast-paced lifestyle.
