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To think millionaires and billionaires could be doing more
Casino218 · 17/03/2020 06:24
Apart from the footballer Ronaldo I have not heard any other stories of generous acts in the face of this crisis.They could be doing a lot more I feel.
Inspiralcarpetry · 17/03/2020 06:28
I agree, this is the time to step up and help foodbanks and vaccine research. Hopefully they are helping silently? I somehow doubt it though.
I've sent a cheque for £30 to my local Trussell Trust foodbank as it's all I can spare. If they proportionally did the same, that would be amazing.
NellNorth · 17/03/2020 06:29
Well, the very idea of a government bailout for Virgin Airways gives me the rage. Put your hand in your pocket, Richard!
Bagelsandbrie · 17/03/2020 06:30
I had an email from Gousto to say they were donating 3000 meals to the food bank trust. I thought that was nice, it’s a small gesture in the scheme of things but every successful company needs to give back at this time.
DippyAvocado · 17/03/2020 06:38
I read about a 19 year old basketball player in the US who is paying the salaries of the stadium staff where his team plays until they re-open. I think the very wealthy could certainly create some sort of fund (as the government should also do).
EffieIsATrinket · 17/03/2020 06:43
Totally agree.
Am sure some of them could do something about the lack of PPE for NHS staff - put some kind of production line in progress - I understand this wouldn't be immediate but we're in for the long haul here. The bailouts make me sick.
mollymoggs · 17/03/2020 06:51
I read about Blake Lively and her husband donating $1 million to people in need. Can't remember the exact charities.
ErrolTheDragon · 17/03/2020 07:06
Bill &Melinda Gates are in for £100 million (so far). Other responses in this piece - good, bad and indifferent
www.forbes.com/sites/willyakowicz/2020/03/15/how-billionaires-are-reacting-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic/
bevelino · 17/03/2020 07:11
Richard Branson should put his hands in his own billionaire pockets and pay Virgin Atlantic staff himself rather than the company ask people to take 8 weeks unpaid leave.
strawberry2017 · 17/03/2020 07:13
Some people will do the donating behind the scenes, not everyone needs the world to know they are giving money.
sixeightfour · 17/03/2020 07:17
I don't think they care. Some are planning to profit from this, because that's all they want- money.
Waxonwaxoff0 · 17/03/2020 07:19
Agree. Richard Branson asking the government for airline bailouts is a joke. Why don't the billionaires of the world pay for that and let the government use the money to help the small businesses and low paid workers that will suffer financially during this time.
LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 17/03/2020 07:21
Don't be daft. They are holed up in their bunkers. You think it's a coincidence Bill Gates resigned a few days ago 
Verily1 · 17/03/2020 07:23
Billionaires are billionaires because they are greedy and selfish.
LizzieMacQueen · 17/03/2020 07:25
The truly modest will not advertise they are donating.
TwentyViginti · 17/03/2020 08:42
The truly modest will not advertise they are donating
This could be so, but I think those that do advertise their largesse may encourage others to donate in a kind of charity oneupmanship 
NettleTea · 17/03/2020 08:49
I also find it rehensible that the NHS is paying £2m a day to private hospitals for the use of their beds
During wartime profiteering was illegal, and I would err on the side of this being right on the edge of that.
They have made a tidy profit over the years, some are ex departments that have been privatised by stealth. Its time to give back.
I also have a dream of large country estates / country house hotels being requisitioned as in war time to create safe spaces for vulnerable people - many of whom are fit enough to run the places so long as everyone was tested prior to admission.
KenDodd · 17/03/2020 08:50
Hopefully this will be a huge wake up call for them.
Please, please stop hoarding money, pay your staff better and pay your tax.
I read once that the cost of Philip Green's third super yatch was equivalent to the tax credits his staff at BHS had been paid to top up their poverty wages so they could feed their families. It's got to stop.
KenDodd · 17/03/2020 08:52
This could be so, but I think those that do advertise their largesse may encourage others to donate in a kind of charity oneupmanship
I agree. Fuck modesty.
Kazzyhoward · 17/03/2020 08:53
Richard Branson should put his hands in his own billionaire pockets and pay Virgin Atlantic staff himself rather than the company ask people to take 8 weeks unpaid leave.
You do realise he doesn't own the Virgin Atlantic Airline don't you???
KenDodd · 17/03/2020 08:54
I also have a dream of large country estates / country house hotels being requisitioned as in war time to create safe spaces for vulnerable people
Apparently during WW2 the lords/ladies of the manor were the LEAST likely to take in child evacuees.
OneThousandthNameChange · 17/03/2020 08:57
Honestly, I think a large proportion of the very wealthy have moved in to their isolated overseas mansions or bunkers, will be isolating with all of life's luxuries, and plan to come out once it's all over. Two fingers up at us peasants.
ffswhatnext · 17/03/2020 09:00
There’s posts popping up all the time about people with money donating.
I know people in my life who have donated and will do so again. They just aren’t going around advertising it. Talking about things in public attracts a lot of requests from others.
Branson, hope once this is all over people will remember this. Same with others who are profiteering from this. They should be ashamed of themselves whether than are a small seller or an international company. But thankfully I believe in karma, and they will all get exactly what they are due.
KenDodd · 17/03/2020 09:02
Despite all my slagging off of billionaires, they are still human beings with compassion (well, some of them!) As I said, hopefully CV will be a wake up call for them and they'll see that money isn't the most important thing in the world.
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