markamatheson.com

A Total Disconnect


As people are starving, homeless and living in refuge camps and on the streets, dying of curable illnesses, rain forest being raped and other misfortunate circumstances many are living opulent lives. Most of the rich have little regard for the plight of their fellow human beings.

On January 1, 2025, our top 10 billionaires were all worth over 140 billion. Warren Buffett is worth 142 billion and Elon Musk is worth 432 billion. Warren Buffett does well with philanthropy perhaps that is why he now is in last place. One thing is for certain all the top 10 billionaires should be giving more money. Elon Musk probably gives a trivial amount to charity. How can billionaires and millionaires not care enough about their fellow human beings and not do more? Why aren’t they saving our rainforests?

The amount of money that is being paid for sports contracts is shocking. Jaun Soto of the New York Mets being paid 765 million for a 15-year contract. Ronaldo Cristiano is being paid up to 200 million for a 2.5-year contract. He plays for the Saudi Pro Leagues Al Nassar.

Other examples of living in excess is a 10 oz porcelain cup from the Ming Dynasty fetching 36 million U.S. dollars, at a Sotheby’s Auction in April 2014. The worst example I ever heard of is about a guy who went out of is way to make himself look good. He probably doesn’t give money to charity. He spent 6.2 million for a banana duct taped to a wall at an Art Gallery in New York, in November of 2024. He intended to eat the piece within a few days.

I hold this guy in contempt, he is an example of excess to the extreme.

This world is going to hell in a hand basket. We must start looking at the rich differently. Instead of only gauging their success by the wealth they have accumulated; what a house they own and what kind of car they drive; let us also focus on the good they are doing for humanity and the organisms we share this planet with. Most of them will fail in this department. To often there is a total disconnect between the amount of money U have and the good that is coming from it, for humanities sake they must do much better.

The gratitude that U receive for being kind to others can make someone’s day and maybe the whole year.