Giving away your fortune

6 Minute English

语言学习

2016-02-18

6 分钟
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  • This is a download from BBC Learning English.

  • To find out more, visit our website.

  • It's an act of philanthropy, which means helping others, especially by giving large amounts of money to good causes.

  • And philanthropy is the subject of this show.

  • But don't worry about Zuckerberg.

  • It's probably fair to say he will remain extremely well off, or wealthy, even after giving away his fortune.

  • Well, that's true.

  • Let me ask you then today's quiz question.

  • Who was the most generous philanthropist in the US last year?

  • Was it A, Bill Gates, B, Mark Zuckerberg, or C, Warren Buffett?

  • I'm going to say C, Warren Buffett.

  • Well, we'll find out if you were right or not later on in the show.

  • Now, Zuckerberg was inspired to give away his fortune by the birth of his daughter, Max.

  • In a letter to Max, posted on Facebook.

  • In his post, he talks about using the money to advance human potential, and promote equality for all children in the next generation, equality, in other words, with the same rights and opportunities.

  • Zuckerberg is the latest in a long line of billionaire entrepreneurs to turn philanthropists and use his money for good causes.

  • Did you know that some of the earliest American philanthropists were robber barons?

  • Robber barons?

  • What's, hang on, what are robber barons?

  • They're business people who use unethical or morally wrong business tactics to gain large personal fortunes.