It’s time I gave away more of my fortune
Tycoon’s 60th birthday pledge for charity
Sir Tom Hunter has revealed he plans to celebrate turning 60 next year by donating more of his fortune to charity.
The businessman said approaching the milestone reminded him that “the clock is ticking”.
He donated £ 1million to Alzheimer’s groups earlier this year after hearing a dementia sufferer playing a piano melody.
The philanthropist also doubled the money generated i n donat ions for the annual KiltWalk after funding was hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
But Tom said he and his wife Marion were planning to celebrate his birthday by doing “bigger and better” things for good causes in 2021.
The tycoon said: “I’m 60 next year in May, I know it’s hard to believe. Reaching 60, you begin to think of your own mortality and I think we need to double down, get on and do bigger and better things with charity because the clock is ticking.
“Not in a morbid way but because we actually get so much fun, so much pleasure, out of giving.”
In 2001, the businessman spent about £1million on his 40th birthday party and hired Stevie Wonder to perform.
Tom, who was knighted in 2005, has pledged to give £1billion to charity before he dies, stating he and Marion do not want to be “the richest people in the graveyard”. He is thought to be worth about £ 625million, according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List.
His Hunter Foundation has donated millions of pounds to charity since it was established in 1998. Speaking on Jimmy
Carpenter’s Very Impressive People podcast, Tom revealed the Cov id- 19 cri si s had convinced him people should do more to help each other.
He added: “Because of Covid, we’ve all had to think, ‘Is there a better way?’ I’ve come to the conclusion there is a much better way.
“Don’t look at me and say, ‘It’s all right for him, he’s got plenty of money to do charity.’ Your time is your most valuable commodity, so volunteer, go and knock on a neighbour to check they’re all right, show kindness around the place.
“These are all huge things to be able to do, so don’t do nothing, do something and it comes back to you in spades.”
We actually get so much fun, so much pleasure, out of giving