SIR Gordon proves as good as his word as he shows philanthropy's not dead...
What could be worse than giving away your top dollar only to find out that it may be all you have?
Ask Sir Gordon Wu Ying-sheung. In 1995, the maverick billionaire decided to donate US$100 million to his alma mater, Princeton University, in what was then the largest US academic donation by a foreign-based alumnus.
Two years later, Sir Gordon's flagship Hopewell Holdings was on the brink of collapse after the Asian financial crisis. Sir Gordon was down to his last US$100 million, and had to reschedule his payments.
Despite his misfortune, Sir Gordon assured Princeton he would make his payment, set at US$20 million in five instalments over 10 years.
According to his authorised biography, The Man Who Turned the Lights On: Gordon Wu, he has caught up with his schedule as Hopewell has recovered and will make his last payment by June 2008, in time for his batch's 50th reunion.