https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/15/business/media/jeff-bezos-amazon-rich-charity.html
Jeff Bezos, the founder and chief
executive of Amazon,
is well on his way to becoming the
richest person in the world, with a net
worth of more than $80 billion. What’s
less certain is what he plans to do with
his fortune, and how he could reinvent
philanthropy.
On Thursday, after questions from The
New York Times about the level of his
giving, Mr. Bezos posted
on Twitter a “request
for ideas” for philanthropy. “I’m
thinking about a philanthropy strategy
that is the opposite of how I mostly
spend my time — working on the long
term,” he wrote. “For philanthropy, I
find I’m drawn to the other end of the
spectrum: the right now.”
Citing a homeless program in Seattle,
Amazon’s hometown, that the company is
working with, he said he was seeking to
help people “at the intersection of
urgent need and lasting impact,” adding,
“If you have any ideas, just reply to
this tweet...”
The message was classic Bezos
— challenging conventional wisdom,
seeking the wisdom of the market and
highlighting his various businesses. Yet
it failed to answer a question that is
likely to follow him more often if and
when he becomes the richest man: What
are his plans to give away some or all
of his wealth?