One of the best things I read was an 1889 essay by Andrew Carnegie called The Gospel of Wealth. It makes the case that the wealthy have a responsibility to return their resources to society, a radical idea at the time that laid the groundwork for philanthropy as we know it today.
In the essay’s most famous line, Carnegie argues that “the man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.” I have spent a lot of time thinking about that quote lately. People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that “he died rich” will not be one of them.
No. He never should have had that wealth to begin with.
So which is it then, keep the money or put it back into the world?
He could instead use the money to lobby for billionaires to pay 90% taxes, thus making the world a better place. But that would be giving power away, instead he gets to pick and choose what makes him look cooler at cocktail parties.
He could and that would be awesome, but there is a shit ton of money in his hands that can still do plenty of actual good whether we all think he is still an asshole for accumulating it. I’m not arguing for him to be remembered as a good man, but the money can create some good still.
We can continue this discussion after you’ve learned how to read.