Philanthropist Chuck Feeney, who donated his £6.5 billion fortune to charity, has died at the age of 92.
Charles F Feeney, through his foundation Atlantic Philanthropies, donated to causes across five continents, including raising £465 million to charities in Northern Ireland.
Born in New Jersey 1931, he first made his money selling luxury duty free goods to travellers, but openly rejected becoming entrapped in the wealthy lifestyle himself.
He founded Atlantic Philanthropies in 1982 to distribute his fortune to projects around the world.
Countries which benefitted from his grants include countries include the US, the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, South Africa, Vietnam, Bermuda and Cuba.
For the first 15 years, Mr Feeney donated in secret, leading him to be dubbed the ‘James Bond of philanthropy’.
He only emerged from anonymity in 1997.
After donating hundreds of millions of US dollars to Irish universities both sides of the border, Mr Feeney received an Honory Doctorate of Laws at Dublin Castle in 2012.
The Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the news of his passing.
He added Mr Feeney had ‘extraordinary generosity’ and his donations had ‘transformed the lives of people on the island of Ireland, north and south, young and old’.
‘He was a pioneer in the world of philanthropy,’ Mr Martin said.
Atlantic Philanthropies quoted Mr Feeney, who said: ‘I had one idea that never changed in my mind—that you should use your wealth to help people.
‘It’s much more fun to give while you are alive than to give when you are dead.’
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