Charles Francis “Chuck” Feeney, the Irish-American businessman and philanthropist who donated more than $8 billion to various causes around the world, died peacefully at his home in San Francisco on Monday. He was 92 years old.
Feeney was born in 1931 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Irish immigrant parents. He served in the US Air Force during the Korean War and later graduated from Cornell University. He co-founded Duty Free Shoppers (DFS) in 1960, a chain of airport shops that sold luxury goods to travelers. He made a fortune from his business, but he decided to give it all away.
In 1982, he secretly transferred his shares in DFS to a foundation called Atlantic Philanthropies, which he used to fund various charitable projects around the world. He did not reveal his identity as the donor until 1997, when a legal dispute forced him to do so. He preferred to remain anonymous and avoid publicity, earning him the nickname “the James Bond of philanthropy” by Forbes magazine.
Feeney believed in the concept of “giving while living”, which means donating one’s wealth during one’s lifetime rather than leaving it to a foundation after death. He once said, “It’s much more fun to give while you are alive than to give when you are dead.” He inspired other billionaires, such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, to join the Giving Pledge, a campaign that encourages the wealthy to donate at least half of their fortunes to charity.
A Legacy of Impact and Influence
Feeney’s generosity spanned across five continents and supported various causes, such as education, health, human rights, peace and justice. Some of his notable achievements include:
- Helping to end the conflict in Northern Ireland by funding grassroots groups and political parties that worked for peace and reconciliation.
- Supporting the development of higher education in Ireland by donating hundreds of millions of dollars to universities and research institutes.
- Improving the health care system in Vietnam by building hospitals, training doctors and nurses, and providing equipment and medicines.
- Promoting democracy and human rights in South Africa by supporting the anti-apartheid movement and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
- Advancing scientific research and innovation by funding the Global Brain Health Institute, which studies dementia and aging, and the Cornell Tech campus, which fosters collaboration between academia and industry.
Feeney’s foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies, closed its doors in 2020 after spending its entire endowment of $8 billion. Feeney himself lived a modest life, wearing a $15 watch, flying economy class, and renting modest apartments. He once said, “I set out to work hard, not get rich.”
Tributes Pour In From Around The World
Feeney’s death was mourned by many leaders and organizations that benefited from his generosity. Irish President Michael D. Higgins said that Feeney was “a remarkable man who will be remembered for his commitment to making the world a better place.” Former US President Bill Clinton said that Feeney was “a friend I admired very much” who “lived a life that will continue to inspire generations.” Warren Buffett, who called Feeney “the model for us all”, said that “if you have the right heroes in life, you’re 90% of the way home. Chuck Feeney is a good hero to have.”
Feeney is survived by his wife Helga and his five children and 16 grandchildren.
