Charles Francis Feeney

Cofounder of the Duty Free Shoppers Group, philanthropist, and Giving Pledge signatory well known for his modesty and commitment to disbursing virtually all of his wealth. Atlantic Philanthropies, among the world's largest private foundations, dispensed $6.1 billion from 1982 through 2011. The remaining $2.3 billion endowment to be given away by 2017. The foundation has provided significant support to health and social projects in Australia, Bermuda, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United States and Vietnam. It is the single largest funder of projects concerning aging and comprehensive immigration reform in the United States. In December 2011, Atlantic Philanthropies committed a $350 million gift to help build Cornell University's new high-tech graduate school on Roosevelt Island in New York City. Feeney has also donated about $1 billion to education in Ireland, mostly to third-level institutions such as the University of Limerick, and over $220 million to causes in Vietnam.