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> Feeney gave away his fortune in secret for many years, until a business dispute resulted in his identity being revealed in 1997.

> Feeney gave away more than $8 billion in his lifetime.

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I wonder what personality you have to have in order to acquire 8 billion and to give it all away. It must be a mix between a ruthless businessman, and mother Theresa. Never met anyone like that.

He grew up during the Depression. Maybe that's part of the answer. He knew the value of a penny.

Imagine coming to terms with having nearly a trillion pennies.

Past a certain point a lot of business execs are in it for the achievement itself and don’t know how to stop. Sort of like an athlete who is past their prime but refuses to retire. They aren’t in the game for the money but.. for the game.

Of course most of them also like to live very comfortably and spend it. I guess once the $$ has a B in it maybe it becomes essentially impossible to spend it all and the money a theoretical concept at best.

Good for him to give back in the most selfless way.

True, but the money allows a businessman to grow their business.

Imagine your software got you to $5B, you can give away $4B, but you can also continue to grow and become a semiconductor superpower.

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