The Billionaire Who Wasn't

The astonishing life story of the modest New Jersey businessman who anonymously gave away 10 billion dollars and inspired the "giving while living" movement.

“Chuck Feeney is a remarkable role model, and the ultimate example of giving while living.” —Bill Gates

The Billionaire Who Wasn't tells the inspiring story of Chuck Feeney, known as the “James Bond of philanthropy.” Feeney made a fortune as founder of Duty Free Shoppers, the world’s largest duty-free retail chain. By 1988, he was hailed by Forbes magazine as the twenty-third richest American alive.

But secretly Feeney had already transferred all his wealth to his foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies, and anonymously funded hospitals and universities from San Francisco to Limerick to New York to Brisbane, becoming one of the greatest and most mysterious American philanthropists of modern times. His example convinced Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to pledge to give away their fortunes during their lifetimes. 

This authorized, bestselling biography by Conor O’Clery is now updated to include the final chapter of Feeney’s life, addressing the challenges associated with giving away his last billion. It also takes stock of the Giving Pledge and how other billionaires have—and have not—lived up to its lofty promise.