Don’t we all dream of becoming fabulously, wickedly, filthy-rich someday? So rich, that you can afford to give a P1,000 tip and won’t feel bothered by the loss of it?
Not in your life! And definitely not, if you depend on just winning the lottery, or finding another magic lamp, just like Aladdin.
Not all rich people are born with a silver spoon in their mouths. Of course, the ones that are, are tremendously lucky because they already have wealth in the family. But did you ever stop to think how their forebears became rich in the first place?
You and I know that when Adam and Eve came forth into this world, they had absolutely nothing. Zilch!
Nada!
That means we all started out as equals with no possessions to speak of. But, as time went by, a number of us were able to till land, make it productive, expand its acreages, and make it legally theirs. Others would find their fortunes in coal production, mining, manufacturing, banking, pharma, telecommunication, publishing – you name it!
Did these things just magically appear or was this manna rained down from Heaven?
Heck, no! Buckets of sweat, tears and blood, sometimes accompanied by little games of cunning, trickery, fraud, manipulation, hocus-pocus, etc. – all combined to make some people more successful than others. And then there are those whose innate intelligence, talent, perseverance, hard work, forward-vision, and just being in the right place at the right time, has defined a life of infinite wealth for them.
Given the above scenarios, let me then ask two questions from you, my dear readers – for you to answer through my FB page or on the “Comments” section below.
My first question would be: Is it okay to be rich, given the socio-economic imbalance between the haves and those who are just struggling to get by?
Next, if you are a rich man, would you leave your wealth to your family as inheritance or would you rather give it away or donate it to philanthropic causes that will help the poor, the sick, science, education or environmental problems?
Lately, James Craig, holder of the James Bond film franchise in the UK, said that he “will get rid of his money before he goes”, adding that he will not leave a substantial amount of his wealth to his children as their inheritance because he finds the practice “distasteful”. He joins a super group of super wealthy who do not intend to, or will leave only a minuscule of, their massive wealth to their children.
Among them is Warren Buffet, who wants “to leave his children just enough money so they could feel that they can do anything but not so much that they can do nothing”. Bill Gates, who declared “it’s not a favor to kids to have them have huge sums of wealth because it distorts anything they might do, creating their own paths”. There, too, is Andrew Lloyd Webber, who insists “he doesn’t believe in inherited money at all because the children will have no incentive to work.”
Also in that group is Chuck Fenney, whose children said although it was eccentric, their father sheltered them from people who used their money to treat them differently. Now, they’re happy because they are just “normal people”.
Michael Bloomberg said, “If you want to do something for your children and show how much you love them, the single best thing is to support organizations that will create a better world for them and their children”. Mark Zuckerberg pretty much shared the same sentiment.
Do you think the same could happen to children in our country? It would be interesting to know what you would do if you were in the shoes of these powerful men. I’ll probably say to them: “Give me the money. I’m poor but I’ll use your investment well.” Just joking!
By the way, for the year 2021, Forbes Magazine has included the following in their annual list of Billionaires: Manuel Villar ($7.2bn), Enrique Razon Jr. ($5bn), Jaime Zobel de Ayala ($3.3bn), Hans Sy ($3bn), Herbert Sy ($3bn), Andrew Tan ($3bn), Dennis Anthony & Maria Grace Uy ($2.8bn), Harley Sy ($2.7bn), Henry Sy Jr ($2.7bn), Tony Tan Cakliong ($2.7bn), Teresita Sy-Coson ($2.7bn), Elizabeth Sy ($2.4bn). Notice anything peculiar? – NWI
