Give me your opinion please?
THE BILLIONAIRE WHO WASN'T
[How Chuck Feeney Secretly
Made and Gave Away a Fortune]
This book is about a man that made billions of dollars, just to it away. He donated apprx 4 billion (All of his wealth) to charity. This guy now buys his suits off the rack, uses a plastic bag for a briefcase, sports drugstore spectacles, wears a $15 plastic watch, and flies coach. He owns no house and no car. He wonders aloud about the need for more than one pair of shoes. When he's in New York, he likes to dine on chicken pot pies at grubby midtown dives.
He is my amongst a few of my idols, what are your views on him?
Someone said they've never heard of him, goes to show how acknowledged he was for his acts.
the publicity-phobic Feeney told BusinessWeek in a rare interview in 2003. "The seats are the same in a cab. And you may live longer if you walk." As New York Times columnist Jim Dwyer once said, this is a man whose life is like Donald Trump's, only backwards.
[Quote]
"I had one idea that never changed in my mind — that you should use your wealth to help people. I try to live a normal life, the way I grew up," Feeney said. "I set out to work hard, not to get rich."
It sounds like he knows who he is and has his priorities set straight. He does what he believes without being concerned of what other people think of him or his ways. He's a self made man with a Robin Hood take on life. Not so extreme of course, but same philosophy I'm sure. He's a simple and happy man, I admire that. I don't envy that because I'm sure he's not the type of person who would want to be envied, but I admire his nobility, uniqueness, rationality, priorities, kindness, and spirit. In my eyes, the man has class. Although, $15 for a plastic watch is to much! haha, you can get a plastic sports watch at Target for $9.99! Just saying is all 
Well, my opinion on this probably isn't half as good as others on here, but I tried. Sounds like an interesting person to read about, I may pick the book up sometime. You have a great day alright?
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good luck to him
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Whatever makes the dude happy. I, myself would've been much happier with.
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I admire the few things you've said of him.
Sounds like America's Gandhi.
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It sounds like he has lived on both sides of the fence and has chosen the one without tons of money. I guess he knows something that we don't!
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Well, thanks a lot! I won't get any sleep tonight pondering this.
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It'd be nice to be able to live without much money or expensive toys, but I do like them, so I'd have kept some of the money - but would have reinvested it to make even more for charity. I think it's great that he saw the greater need and tried to help. There were others who needed the money more than he did, and most people would not have cared.
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I think that there is a difference between being down-to-earth and just not enjoying life. I can understand the drugstore spectacles and flying coach, but using a plastic bag for a briefcase and wearing the plastic watch is just too much.
It was a wonderful thing to donate so much to charity when celebrities are squandering their millions on elaborate weddings and fur coats, but this man can be a little more open to dressing and acting at least "middle-class."
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never heard of him
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There's a difference between being thrifty, and being cheap. He could have brought a 10$ briefcase.
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Personally I would have kept some to at least live comfortably, but whatever makes him happy.
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I think he's great. He obviously doesn't buy into needing material things to feel whole. He lives the way he wants without regard to what society will think of him — a rarity in today's world.
I'm not saying he's right and that people who do contribute success to material wealth are wrong. He's doing a very admirable thing by living as he wants despite judgment. He should be commended for his effort.
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I agree with him.
i not impressed with fancy cars and clothes
they ussally belong to snobby people i would not want to talk to.
I dont need alot i just want to pay off my house.
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It sounds like he knows who he is and has his priorities set straight. He does what he believes without being concerned of what other people think of him or his ways. He's a self made man with a Robin Hood take on life. Not so extreme of course, but same philosophy I'm sure. He's a simple and happy man, I admire that. I don't envy that because I'm sure he's not the type of person who would want to be envied, but I admire his nobility, uniqueness, rationality, priorities, kindness, and spirit. In my eyes, the man has class. Although, $15 for a plastic watch is to much! haha, you can get a plastic sports watch at Target for $9.99! Just saying is all
Well, my opinion on this probably isn't half as good as others on here, but I tried. Sounds like an interesting person to read about, I may pick the book up sometime. You have a great day alright?
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I wish there was many more people like this man in the world and it would be a better place to raise or children! can you email me the name of this book ? I would love to read it.
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hmmm fair enough he is an extreamly generous man, if he can continue his life living like that then who is anyone to judge.
Personally i would have kept some money….probabaly all of it
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I think highly of him. My father died when I was six and my sister one, then the bank failed. We liv ed on $400 per year. My mother refused charity. She taught to study, work, save, and invest. Thus I was not tempted into indolence living off politicians handouts. Instead I always voted for those who did not punish people like me with taxes. My first full time job after the War and day schooling earned $3000 per year. I saved and invested half of that. I still fight waste despite very good financial strength.
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