Ty Warner is a billionaire with a difference in that he doesn’t hoard his fortune. He’s given millions to charity and once, when he stopped a woman to ask for directions in California and discovered she needed a stem-cell procedure, he gave her the £16,000 ($20,000) required to save her life.
This week, yet again proving his selfless nature, Chicago born Warner – whose fortune comes from making the Beanie Babies range of toys – turned over a hotel he owns, the I. M. Pei designed Four Seasons New York, for the use of the city’s medical workers, doctors and nurses treating coronavirus patients.
Of why he decided to do this, Warner told Town & Country magazine:
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“Many of those working in New York City have to travel long distances to and from their homes after putting in 18-hour days… They need a place close to work where they can rest and regenerate. I heard Governor Cuomo’s call to action during one of his press conferences, and there was no other option for us but do whatever we could to help.”
We join those saluting this very, very generous man and urge British business tycoons to follow Ty Warner’s lead. To date, amongst those who’ve failed in that regard in Blighty are Mike Ashley, Sir Richard Branson, Sir Philip Green and Tim Martin.
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Readers have their say
4 comments
I would like to suggest the Barclay brothers stop their feuding and hand over some rooms at The Ritz.
That’s insane!!!!! But I suppose good for him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why hasn’t Trump turned over his hotels????????? SHAME ON HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bravo. He’s a testament to how surviving challenging circumstances (his childhood/tax evasion trial) can sometimes create the most compassionate and altruistic individuals.
Ty Warner did the entire FSNY thing for his own ego and publicity stunt; looks like a good thing but he’s a complete fraud and clown