We're in the worst era of wealthy people
Summary
We're in the worst era of wealthy people," a rider tells Kareem, kicking off a spirited debate about modern philanthropy. The Medicis gave us the Renaissance. Today's billionaires? "Warehouses and Katy Perry in space." Both agree that past elites like the Rockefellers and Carnegie at least built universities and town halls, while contemporary moguls just build private islands and hang out exclusively with each other. The rider runs a chess club with DJs in East London and has a modest proposal: rich people should fund him instead. How much does he need? "A million" pounds to build chess clubs around the world.
Full Transcript
We're in the worst era of wealthy people.
Worst era of wealthy people. 100% disagree. Back in the days, the Medici family gave us the Renaissance era. That was—they gave us Botticelli, Da Vinci, D'Angelo, Michelangelo. But what do we get now?
That's because they—yes, okay, I—you're right. The richest people used to be benefactors.
Yeah, to society.
The arts.
Exactly. Today we get warehouses and Katy Perry in space.
And artificial intelligence.
Exactly. It's all the same.
That's so true. Even like Rockefellers and Carnegie still contribute to like the arts and like universities and build town halls. Today we don't get any of that.
And they used to be quite philanthropic.
Exactly.
It was part of being wealthy—was like you're like, "Ah, I give my money away."
Whereas today it's just like, "Oh, you know, I'm going to build a private island and be exclusive and like don't care about society anymore."
And only hang out with other wealthy people.
I think what they should do is invest in people like me so I can contribute to society.
And what do you do? What do you do? I contribute to culture through building a chess club and also like DJs.
What's the chess club? So, chess club is a thing I run in like East London. We kind of have DJs and stuff. It's very social.
Do you play chess?
Yeah, I do. Of course.
That's a club? Yeah, it's a chess club. It's called nightclub.
It's a chess club, but there's DJs.
Yeah.
There's DJs at the chess club.
100%.
That's kind of fire.
Should you come sometime?
I'd love to. I—I know how.
Yeah. I'm not good, man.
It's very casual. Somebody give this guy some damn pounds.
Exactly.
How many pounds do you need? Nah, a million.
A million pounds? Easy. Keep the chess club alive.
Build more chess clubs.
Build more, all around the world. Rich people giving money—I'll take care of—I'll take care of you.