Dolly parton is the only standout on that list. She’s NOT a billionaire because she gives back, and isn’t a scumbag that hoards more money than she needs to live an extremely comfortable life. The rest of the people on that list are very talented and have done great things for humanity, but the nature of capitalism seems to reward hyperuccessful entertainers more than it rewards hyperuccessful scholars and teachers, people who arguably contribute more to the human experience than entertainers do. Dolly gets it right by giving back as much as she can. The rest just take it in because capitalism tells them they deserve it.

I’m not a Christian anymore but the parable of the Widow’s offering in (Mark 12:41-44) (Yes I had to look that up) holds forever true in my mind. The amount you give is a deeper reflection of your character when it’s compared in proportion to what you can afford to give, not in absolute terms of the value given. Dolly doesn’t go as far as to make her living situation worse, and neither do I. But if more of us tried just a little harder to give more than is easily comfortable, the world would be SO much better.

And people who have a billion dollars they don’t need but also don’t give are making the world worse.