Millionaires begging for money

[dowie]

Your source kind differs as to what you previously said:

It seems people have a funny definition of "most" or "the majority"

4% of firefighters in the US are private = "most" firefighters in the US are private?

11% of Americans are in poverty = the majority of Americans are in poverty?

Interestingly some private business owner did save the local mall in Pacific Palisades by contracting some private firefighters to keep it safe.

 

[Chuk_Chuk]

Does the Fire Department Charge? | FireFighterNow

Have you ever driven yourself or a loved one to a hospital because you’re afraid of incurring fees for the ambulance? Well, now a kitchen fire has broken

firefighternow.com

In the rural areas there are private firefighters that operate independently as a business.

Credit given were credit due. That was an interesting read.

However nearly everything in that article contradicts your original point.

 

[silvagti]

Noticed they’re back at it on the beeb tonight for comic relief.

Maybe it’s an age thing, as I used to enjoy it when I was younger, but now I can’t help feel there’s just something a bit crass about a group of multimillionaire celebrities parading around asking the general public / licence fee payers for money?

I can’t bring myself to watch it these days. Would much rather donate to a local charity where I can see the good my money is actually doing.

 

[malachi]

Noticed they’re back at it on the beeb tonight for comic relief.

Maybe it’s an age thing, as I used to enjoy it when I was younger, but now I can’t help feel there’s just something a bit crass about a group of multimillionaire celebrities parading around asking the general public / licence fee payers for money?

I can’t bring myself to watch it these days. Would much rather donate to a local charity where I can see the good my money is actually doing.

Thought Comic Relief had stopped but I haven't watched TV for years.

 

[danoliver1]

Comedians asking for money? Their having a laugh.

 

[arknor]

Maybe it’s an age thing, as I used to enjoy it when I was younger, but now I can’t help feel there’s just something a bit crass about a group of multimillionaire celebrities parading around asking the general public / licence fee payers for money?

yea in the 90s you never realise all these people on the TV are millionaires who live in a bubble asking people worse off than they are to donate donate donate.

don't they get paid as well? or some of them were years back...

When you think about it we have probably 0 in common with any of these multi millionaires at all, they aren't relatable anymore.

It's no wonder less and less people watch TV.


Also the more you know about them through media usually the worse they seem, maybe thats why theres no real "hollywood stars" anymore the enigma is broken and we see them for what they are.

 

[Nasher]

Famous millionaires don't live off their own money, not the smart ones anyway. They take out huge, very low interest loans against their assets/property and invest it or stick it in a high interest account with a different bank. Pay back the loan using the interest and live off the remaining free money.

I suppose if it's against their mansion and they didn't insure it, they might be screwed.

Us mortals aren't offered those options though..

 

[Hagar]

Famous millionaires don't live off their own money, not the smart ones anyway. They take out huge, very low interest loans against their assets/property and invest it or stick it in a high interest account with a different bank. Pay back the loan using the interest and live off the remaining free money.

I suppose if it's against their mansion and they didn't insure it, they might be screwed.

Us mortals aren't offered those options though..

They have to spend their money acquiring all these assets and property to act as collateral for these huge loans you talk about in the first place, I'm not sure all do. What you are talking about is minimising tax using debt. If you are a Jim Ratcliffe, you just get the government to sub you a new stadium with the acquiescence of Andy Burnham et al.

 

[Jupiter]

Famous millionaires don't live off their own money, not the smart ones anyway. They take out huge, very low interest loans against their assets/property and invest it or stick it in a high interest account with a different bank. Pay back the loan using the interest and live off the remaining free money.

I suppose if it's against their mansion and they didn't insure it, they might be screwed.

Us mortals aren't offered those options though..

This, except often the loans are made from offshore trusts which are indirectly owned by the same person, through a network of indirection. And those trusts generously offer 0% rates on the 'loans' they provide. How nice of them.

 

[GGizmo]

The only millionaire I've known in person was this old guy who lived in a house surrounded by the fields he owned.

Building companies were offering him millions to buy some of the fields so they could build houses. But he turned them down.

If you go into his house it was very unkempt.

A mutual friend had asked him if he would take him into Manchester for a visit to a specialist doctor. The mutual friend paid for the petrol.

After the millionaire said we'll get something to eat before we drive back, his shout.

The mutual friend is thinking it'll be a fancy restaurant.

But the car pulled up behind an old factory. The friend noticed people going in and out of a doorway. The millionaire got out of the car and started walking towards the door, closely followed by the friend.

They entered the building. The friend looked around and it was a place for the homeless to get a warm meal!

The friend walked out saying he felt embarrassed with the feeling they were taking away food from those that genuinely need it.

I think there are millionaires who are money hoarders. It doesn't stop even when they become rich.

 

[Nasher]

Id turn construction companies down to. They are ruining countryside with soulless estates. Why let them ruin the view and the land as an asset will be worth more in future by keeping them out.

 

[Moothead2]

Noticed they’re back at it on the beeb tonight for comic relief.

Maybe it’s an age thing, as I used to enjoy it when I was younger, but now I can’t help feel there’s just something a bit crass about a group of multimillionaire celebrities parading around asking the general public / licence fee payers for money?

I can’t bring myself to watch it these days. Would much rather donate to a local charity where I can see the good my money is actually doing.

Not sure how rich you think 95% of these celebs are but I doubt the likes of Jason Manford and Rob Beckett are able to scoop together the ~£66m that the show generates every year. I imagine most if not all contribute a decent amount too.

 

[silvagti]

Not sure how rich you think 95% of these celebs are but I doubt the likes of Jason Manford and Rob Beckett are able to scoop together the ~£66m that the show generates every year. I imagine most if not all contribute a decent amount too.

A quick Google suggests that the networth of someone like Johnathon Ross is £30m and Rob Beckett £6m. To put that in perspective han the total money raised by last night's comic relief was £30m.

Comic Relief reveals 2025 Red Nose Day total

Comic Relief celebrated 40 years with its 2025 broadcast.

www.radiotimes.com

More of a concern to me though is where does the money actually go and what is it used for? I'm fairly skeptical of many larger charities as I think they're far to open to corruption/waste due to lack of accountability at that level.

 

[Moothead2]

A quick Google suggests that the networth of someone like Johnathon Ross is £30m and Rob Beckett £6m. To put that in perspective han the total money raised by last night's comic relief was £30m.

Comic Relief reveals 2025 Red Nose Day total

Comic Relief celebrated 40 years with its 2025 broadcast.

www.radiotimes.com

More of a concern to me though is where does the money actually go and what is it used for? I'm fairly skeptical of many larger charities as I think they're far to open to corruption/waste due to lack of accountability at that level.

It's a lot easier to get a few million people to donate a tenner with a star studded charity event than it is to convince b-list celebs at most to give up most of their net worth.

Would it be better if it was held by mostly normal people, do you think that would generate anywhere near as much for charity or have the eyes on it when compared to a show full of famous faces having fun and looking like a bit of a Pratt?

Comic relief gives every penny to a large number of charities, many of which will be small charities that desperately need it. There's a list on their site from a couple of years ago.

 

[tangey]

They have to spend their money acquiring all these assets and property to act as collateral for these huge loans you talk about in the first place, I'm not sure all do. What you are talking about is minimising tax using debt. If you are a Jim Ratcliffe, you just get the government to sub you a new stadium with the acquiescence of Andy Burnham et al.

It is my understand that Jim Ratcliffe has said the club will finance the stadium, however it is not viable unless there is a committment from government to regenerate the whole surrounding area.

 

[silvagti]

Comic relief gives every penny to a large number of charities, many of which will be small charities that desperately need it. There's a list on their site from a couple of years ago.

It’s good that they’re raising money but personally I think it’s a type of event that’s time has been and gone.

I’d rather see my money go directly to specific local charities than have a large organisation like this dictate it.

 

[Moothead2]

It’s good that they’re raising money but personally I think it’s a type of event that’s time has been and gone.

I’d rather see my money go directly to specific local charities than have a large organisation like this dictate it.

And you're more than welcome to do so, an event like Comic Relief isn't stopping you. I just very much doubt that the £34m raised this year would have found it's way to local charities without an event like Comic Relief encouraging people to do so. Your average comic relief donator probably isn't there researching local charities to give money to.

 

[arknor]

Your average comic relief donator probably isn't there researching local charities to give money to.

It's really easy these days, takes like 2minutes to find good local charities to support

 

[Moothead2]

It's really easy these days, takes like 2minutes to find good local charities to support

And people still won't do it. Plenty of things people are too lazy to do take 2 minuites. Something like comic relief is an easy way for these people to feel like they're doing something good or meaningful.