Special Series
Billionaire Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age
When Inside Philanthropy launched in early 2014, America’s billionaires had a combined net worth of $2.2 trillion, and the nation’s richest person, Bill Gates, had a fortune of $76 billion. Today, the 900 or so billionaires in the United States are worth around $7 trillion — more than the bottom 65% of U.S. households — and the richest among them, Elon Musk, has a $500 billion fortune. Five other Americans are worth over $200 billion. In this series we examine aspects of today’s new gilded age of billionaire giving and highlight important past reporting.
The Private Money Gilding Public Space in New York City
Nowhere is the impact of the wealthy on public parks more apparent than in the nation’s largest urban center. That makes for beautiful spots, but the bounty is unevenly shared.
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How Heirs Are Making Their Mark in a New Gilded Age of Family Philanthropy
In an era of rising mega-wealth, family giving is evolving as next-gen heirs take the reins. Here are several dynastic archetypes to note.
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7 Reasons Why Abundance Is a Promising Way Forward for Billionaire Giving
The innovation-focused, deregulatory “abundance agenda” has been hotly debated. But as a lens for new Gilded Age giving, it has definite points in its favor.
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Inside the Push to Privatize Education in a New Gilded Age
During the first Gilded Age, philanthropy helped set the stage for the U.S. public education system. Today, many billionaire donors appear intent on abolishing it altogether.
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Gilded Age Arts Funding, Then and Now
The winners of the first Gilded Age recognized the importance of supporting the arts and building arts institutions. Are today’s big-time earners doing the same?
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The Women of the Old Gilded Age Backed Education. Today’s Women Billionaires Give More Diversely
Wealthy women gave generously for women’s education from 1870 to 1900. Most of today’s women billionaires have different priorities.
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It’s Not Always Sunny in the New Gilded Age — Megadonors Often Prefer Darkness
Transparency is entirely optional for today’s billionaire donors. Many decline to reveal much at all, despite reaping tax benefits.
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Class Traitors: Can Billionaires Back Structural Economic Reform in a New Gilded Age?
Very few ultra-wealthy people support efforts to bring about systemic economic change. There are, however, some exceptions to note.
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Why Don’t the Very Rich Give More to Charity?
A conversation with sociology professor Rachel Sherman on perfectionism, guilt, legacy and what’s stopping some of the mega-wealthy from becoming megadonors.
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The Future of Billionaire Philanthropy: Seven Predictions
What will a philanthrosphere truly dominated by the ultra-rich look like? IP’s Editor-in-Chief forecasts an unsettling new world that’s hurtling toward us.
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