The Billionaire Who Wasn't: How Chuck Feeney Secretly Made and Gave Away a Fortune
Conor O’Cleary, former New York correspondent for the Irish Times, has published a biography of the remarkable philanthropist Chuck Feeney.
After service in the Korean War Feeney made a fortune as founder of Duty Free Shoppers, the world’s largest duty-free retail chain. While Forbes repeatedly listed him in the wealthiest 400 people, he had quietly given away much of his fortune to a charitable foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies.
The book describes how Feeney was heavily influenced by his attorney and adviser, Harvey Dale, who introduced him to the concept of giving-while-living.
It traces his approach to giving and how it developed. At first he kept his identity quiet – Forbes described him as the James Bond of Philanthropy. It was only in 1997 when he sold his remaining duty free interests that his philanthropy became public knowledge.
He also came round to the idea of promoting and encouraging giving. After initial scepticism about the Gates’ Giving Pledge he came round to signing it himself in 2011.
By working – and it was hard work – to exhaust his foundation’s giving, he famously told Warren Buffett “I want my last cheque to bounce”.
