Why Do Wealthy People Give?
Throughout history and across cultures, wealthy people have given away their money. Not all of them, certainly—but many. Why would someone who worked hard to build wealth simply give it away?
There are several reasons:
- •Impact: After a certain point, more money does not make you happier. But using it to solve problems or help others brings deep satisfaction.
- •Legacy: Buildings crumble, businesses are forgotten. But a school or hospital that serves generations? That endures.
- •Meaning: Accumulating wealth feels empty without purpose. Giving provides that purpose—a sense that your life mattered.
- •Gratitude: Many wealthy people feel fortunate and want to share that fortune with others.
Notice that none of these require being forced. The best giving comes from genuine desire, not guilt or obligation.
Giving While Living
There is a growing movement called "Giving While Living." The idea is simple: Why wait until you die to give your wealth away?
When you give while you are alive:
- •You can see the impact of your giving
- •You can learn what works and adjust
- •You can use your skills and networks, not just your money
- •You can inspire others to give too
Leaving everything in a will means trusting others to carry out your wishes after you are gone. Giving now means you can ensure it is done right.
When Businesses Give: Corporate Responsibility
Businesses also give back. This is sometimes called Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It takes many forms:
- •Donating money to charities and causes
- •Giving employees paid time to volunteer
- •Reducing environmental harm
- •Paying fair wages and treating workers well
- •Supporting local communities
Some do this genuinely. Others do it for public relations. The wisest businesses understand that doing good and doing well are not opposites— they reinforce each other.
A business that treats its workers poorly will struggle to keep good people. A business that harms its community will lose customers. In the long run, ethical behaviour is usually good business.
The Multiplier Effect
Here is something remarkable: Prosperity shared often creates more prosperity. Not less.
When you help someone start a business, they may employ others. Those employees spend money in their community. That spending supports other businesses. And so on.
When you fund a school, you educate children who grow up to solve problems, create businesses, and contribute to society in ways you could never predict.
This is the multiplier effect. One act of giving ripples outward, creating benefits far beyond the original gift. Hoarded wealth sits still. Shared wealth grows.
Ancient Wisdom: Thirukkural on Giving
The Thirukkural, written over 2,000 years ago in Tamil Nadu, devotes an entire section to giving. Here is one of its most famous verses:
"The wealth of the generous never declines. Like a flowing spring, it replenishes itself."
In modern terms: Giving does not deplete you. When you give freely, more comes to you—whether through new opportunities, relationships, or simply the satisfaction of a life well-lived.
"What is the use of a miser's wealth? It neither helps others nor brings him joy."
In modern terms: Wealth that is never used—neither for yourself nor others—is pointless. It might as well not exist.
Ancient Wisdom: Dana and Paropakara
In Sanskrit, Dana means giving or charity. It is considered one of the most important virtues—not optional, but essential to a good life.
There is a famous saying:
"Paropakaram idam shariram"
(This body is meant for helping others)
In modern terms: Your abilities, your wealth, your time— these are not just for yourself. They are tools for serving others. A life focused only on accumulating for yourself misses the point.
And the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—"the world is one family"—suggests that when anyone prospers, we all benefit. Prosperity is not a zero-sum game.
Starting Small: Giving at Any Level
You do not need to be wealthy to give. In fact, starting the habit of giving when you have little makes it easier to give when you have more.
You can give:
- •Money: Even small amounts make a difference. Many great causes rely on small donations from many people.
- •Time: Volunteer for causes you care about. Your skills may be worth more than money.
- •Attention: Listen to someone who needs to be heard. Notice those who are overlooked.
- •Knowledge: Teach what you know. Mentoring costs nothing but changes lives.
The Thirukkural says that even a tiny gift, given with a full heart, is precious. The size of the gift matters less than the spirit behind it.
Key Takeaways
- ✓Wealthy people give for impact, legacy, meaning, and gratitude
- ✓Giving while living lets you see and guide your impact
- ✓Shared prosperity multiplies—it does not diminish
- ✓Dana (giving) is an essential virtue in the Bharatiya tradition
- ✓You can give money, time, attention, or knowledge at any level
Reflection Question
If you had more than you needed, what would you give to? Who would you help? What problems would you want to solve? And—can you start now, in some small way, with what you already have?
The habit of generosity starts before wealth arrives. Those who give nothing when they have little rarely give much when they have plenty.
Congratulations!
You have completed the "How Money Works" topic. You now understand:
- ✓What money is and why we use it
- ✓Revenue, costs, and profit—the core of any business
- ✓Budgets and why cash flow matters
- ✓Why prosperity is honourable, not shameful
- ✓The relationship between wealth and giving
More importantly, you have learned from Chanakya, the Thirukkural, and the great Bharatiya merchant tradition. This wisdom has guided prosperous societies for millennia. Now it can guide you too.