A multi-millionaire killed himself yesterday by jumping off
the his luxury apartment building in Manhattan after giving away his millions.
Robert Wilson was an 86-year-old Wall Street mogul whose
personal fortune was estimated to be about $800million- but he recently told
friends he had given all but $100million to charity. He apparently could not
give away the rest because it was tied up in long-term investments.
He jumped from his 16th-floor apartment in the luxury San
Remo building on Manhattan's Upper West Side on Monday.
Friends saw signs that he may do something drastic as he
suffered a debilitating stroke about a month ago and began unloading his
fortune in droves.
The multi-millionaire did not have any children and his
35-year marriage ended well before his death.
'His plan was to give all his money away. He told me
recently, "I only have about $100million left,"' his friend Stephen
Viscusi told The New York Post.
The paper reports that he has donated more than $100million
a piece to four different charities: The Nature conservancy, the Environmental
Defense Fund, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the World Monuments Fund.
'He was the most committed person I have ever known,' World
Monuments Fund president Bonnie Burnham said to The Post.
'More than his financial contributions, he brought an astute
mind and sharp wit to the organization. He will be missed greatly and long
remembered as a visionary donor.'
The idea of saving the environment was one that Wilson had
spoken about previously, and in a 2011 interview, he told The Financial Times
that much of the $600million he had given to charity at that point was directed
towards those groups.
'The idea of "But for my money, it would be gone
forever" appeals,' he said then at the age of 84.
Another issue that appealed to him- and was close to his
purse strings- was an investment in New York City's Catholic schools.
The felt that the tuition at the schools, which were going
through financial issues, showed an immediate 'return' and he gave $20million
to a fund earmarked for that cause.
'I’m an atheist, but I think the schools are especially
good,' he said to the Financial Times.
He was also proud of the apartment where he lived, making it
less of a shock that he chose that as his final resting place.
He had owned the apartment since 1978 and his attention to
detail and fine art collection has helped him decorate it and refurbish it so
that his original price- $300,000- is just a fraction of what he estimated it's
worth in 2011- $20million.
Wilson is one of man millionaires who live in the building,
as Bono, Tiger Woods, Steven Spielberg, Dodi Fayed and Bruce Willis have all
had apartments in the building.
The apartment has views of Central Park, and Wilson clearly
relished looking out at the trees and the lake.
'Who needs a summer place? I've got one,' he said to the
Financial Times reporter.
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