Giving away your fortune

Neil and Sophie talk about robber barons, industrialization in America, and what it takes to be a modern-day philanthropist.

helping others, especially by giving large amounts of money to good causes

pledged = made a serious promise

well off = wealthy. He's extremely well-off.

ruthless = cruel

average Joe = ordinary person

a tidy sum = a large number

he pledged – or made a serious promise – to give away 99% of his shares in Facebook over the course of his lifetime.

he pledged – or made a serious promise – to give away 99% of his shares in Facebook over the course of his lifetime.

But don't worry about Zuckerberg, it's probably fair to say that he will remain extremely well off – or wealthy – even after giving away his fortune.

what're robber barons? They're business people who use unethical - or morally wrong - business tactics to gain large personal fortunes.

They built up huge empires in industry – oil, steel, railways, and cars – and were largely responsible for transforming the United States from an agricultural nation into an industrial one.

That sounds too warm and fuzzy for a ruthless – or cruel - robber baron.

The very word philanthropy does not necessarily have 100% positive connotations for the public at large given where we are in terms of the public's attitude towards business or the banks and that kind of stuff.

The very word philanthropy does not necessarily have 100% positive connotations for the public at large given where we are in terms of the public's attitude towards business or the banks and that kind of stuff.

So I think it's in everyone's interests to try and broaden out the concept of philanthropy into a wider notion of giving, making a contribution, making a difference.

So I think it's in everyone's interests to try and broaden out the concept of philanthropy into a wider notion of giving, making a contribution, making a difference.

And that's what Professor Cunningham means when he says we should broaden out the notion – or idea – of philanthropy.

I'm impressed by Toby's pledge but I don't think I could live like a student my whole life!

That's a tidy sum – and that means a large number!