There are many ways to become wealthy. Some people inherit their money, others build businesses from scratch, and a lucky few win fortunes through investments or lotteries. But what happens when someone who has accumulated millions or even billions decides that money is no longer the most important thing in life?
While most wealthy people try to preserve and increase their fortunes, others choose a different path. Some donate almost everything to charity, others transfer their businesses to organisations working for the public good, and a few abandon their comfortable lifestyles to pursue religious or personal beliefs.
Meet ten remarkable people who decided to use their wealth in ways that went far beyond personal luxury.
1 Chuck Feeney – more than $8 billion
Charles “Chuck” Feeney made his fortune as a co-founder of Duty Free Shoppers, one of the world’s largest duty-free retail businesses. But instead of spending his billions on luxury properties and expensive possessions, he decided to give almost everything away during his lifetime.
Through his foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies, he distributed more than $8 billion to support education, healthcare, scientific research and social development around the world. Feeney believed that it was better to help people while he was alive rather than wait until after his death. He died in October 2023, having become one of the most remarkable examples of modern philanthropy.
2 Andrew Carnegie – more than $350 million
Andrew Carnegie was one of the richest industrialists of the late 19th century. He built a steel empire in the United States and sold his company to J. P. Morgan in 1901. After retiring from business, Carnegie devoted much of his time and wealth to philanthropy.
He donated more than $350 million during his lifetime, funding universities, scientific institutions, cultural organisations and thousands of public libraries. More than 2,500 libraries were established with Carnegie’s support. His famous philosophy was expressed in his essay “The Gospel of Wealth”, in which he argued that wealthy people had a responsibility to use their fortunes for the benefit of society.
3 John D. Rockefeller – $540 million
John D. Rockefeller built one of the largest business empires in American history through Standard Oil. At the height of his wealth, he was considered the richest man in the world. Yet he also became one of the most influential philanthropists of his era.
He donated approximately $540 million during his lifetime, supporting education, medical research, public health and scientific institutions. His contributions helped establish the University of Chicago and the Rockefeller Foundation, which later supported important advances in medicine and disease prevention. Rockefeller believed that large fortunes should be distributed carefully and systematically to improve people’s lives.
4 Warren Buffett – more than 99% of his wealth pledged to philanthropy
Warren Buffett, one of the world’s most successful investors, has repeatedly stated that he does not intend to leave his enormous fortune to his children. Instead, he has committed to donating more than 99% of his wealth to philanthropic causes during his lifetime or after his death.
Since 2006, Buffett has donated large amounts of Berkshire Hathaway shares to charitable foundations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and organisations established by his family. He believes that the money can achieve far more good when used to improve health, education and living conditions than when simply passed down as an inheritance.
5 Bill Gates – almost his entire remaining fortune
Bill Gates became a billionaire through Microsoft, the software company he co-founded with Paul Allen. After decades at the top of the technology industry, Gates increasingly focused on philanthropy through the foundation he established with his former wife, Melinda French Gates.
In 2025, Gates announced that he intended to donate virtually all of his remaining wealth to the Gates Foundation, which plans to close permanently in 2045. The foundation focuses on global health, education, poverty reduction and improving opportunities for disadvantaged communities. Its total charitable spending has already exceeded $100 billion.
6 MacKenzie Scott – more than $26 billion donated
MacKenzie Scott received a substantial share of Amazon stock following her 2019 divorce from Jeff Bezos. Rather than simply preserve her newly acquired fortune, she made a public commitment to give away most of her wealth.
Through her philanthropic initiative Yield Giving, Scott has distributed more than $26 billion to nonprofit organisations since 2019, according to figures reported in 2025. Her approach is unusual: many recipients receive large donations without having to submit lengthy applications or follow restrictive spending conditions. Her contributions support education, healthcare, social justice, economic opportunity and other causes.
7 Azim Premji – approximately $29 billion committed to philanthropy
Azim Premji transformed Wipro from a small Indian company into a major international technology business. But his greatest legacy may be his decision to devote a substantial part of his wealth to philanthropy.
Through the Azim Premji Foundation, he has committed a huge financial endowment to improve education and address social inequalities in India. The foundation reported that the endowment was worth approximately $29 billion in January 2023. Its work focuses particularly on public education, teacher development and improving opportunities for disadvantaged communities.
8 Yvon Chouinard – Patagonia’s ownership transferred for the planet
Yvon Chouinard founded Patagonia, the outdoor clothing company known for its environmental commitments. In 2022, he and his family made an extraordinary decision: they transferred ownership of the entire company to two organisations designed to protect its mission and support environmental causes.
The Patagonia Purpose Trust received all voting shares, while the nonprofit Holdfast Collective received the non-voting shares. Profits not reinvested in the business are intended to support environmental protection and the fight against climate change. Chouinard did not simply sell his company and donate the proceeds; he changed its ownership structure to direct its future profits towards the planet.
9 Millard and Linda Fuller – a millionaire couple who gave away their possessions
Millard Fuller became a self-made millionaire at just 29. However, his growing wealth did not bring the happiness he expected. After experiencing serious problems in his marriage and personal life, he and his wife Linda decided to sell their possessions and give the money to people in need.
Their search for a more meaningful life eventually led them to establish Habitat for Humanity International in 1976. The organisation helps families obtain decent and affordable housing through partnerships, volunteer work and accessible financing. Rather than simply donating money, the Fullers created a model that has helped communities build homes around the world.
10 Bhanwarlal Doshi – a $600 million business empire abandoned for religious life
Bhanwarlal Raghunath Doshi, known in India as the “Plastics King”, built a successful business empire in the plastics industry. In 2015, he made a decision that surprised the business community: he gave up his business interests and embraced Jain monastic life.
His business empire was reported to be worth more than 600 crore rupees. Doshi had been interested in becoming a Jain monk for decades, but only made the decision after receiving the agreement of his family. As part of his new religious life, he renounced material possessions and adopted the strict principles of Jain monasticism.
