MSNBC
LONDON - He wears a $15 watch, flies economy class and does not own a house or car. For years. few guessed that Chuck Feeney was one of the world's biggest philanthropists, secretly giving away his billionaire fortune.
Born in New Jersey during the Depression to a blue-collar Irish-American family, Feeney co-founded Duty Free Shoppers (DFS), the world's largest duty-free retail chain. He liked making money but not having it, and gave it away for years in strict secrecy.
Journalist Conor O'Clery's new book "The Billionaire Who Wasn't: How Chuck Feeney Secretly Made and Gave Away a Fortune" (Public Affairs $26.95), reveals that Feeney may be destined to go down in history as one of the greatest American philanthropists.
Witty, self-deprecating, frugal and astute, Feeney was listed by Forbes Magazine in 1988 as the 23rd richest American alive and worth $1.3 billion, richer than Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump. He wasn't.
Four years earlier, Feeney had placed most of his money in charitable foundations.
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Mr. Feeney God bless you for all you have done for others. You have clearly shown you have true love in your heart. I help refugees with whatever I can offer them, I am not Rich in dollars but like you I am Rich in Love. Although I don't have much I help every one that needs help.. My biggest reward? I am never alone.
God Bless you Feeney!
Maria Santos,
North Carolina
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