Final week, it was revealed that Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff had been shopping for up numerous land in Hawaii at an accelerating clip. Benioff, who’s worth billions and billions of dollars, has procured roughly $100 million in land parcels all through the Large Island through a collection of nondescript LLCs. He’s been fairly cagey about what most of this land is for and was greater than somewhat bit hostile with the NPR journalist who broke the story about it. Now, in what actually looks like an effort to avoid wasting face, Benioff has announced he’ll be donating $150 million to regional hospitals.
On Tuesday, Benioff said that he can be donating thousands and thousands to Hawaii’s healthcare system. The cash will go to the Hilo Medical Heart in addition to Hawaii Pacific Well being. Further funds will go to UCSF Well being in San Francisco. Whereas the press launch related to the donation claims that Benioff’s present was “developed over greater than a yr of collaboration,” it’s actually handy timing given the truth that Benioff simply had some actually unhealthy press final week.
“We really feel lucky to have been a part of the Hawaii group for a lot of a long time and to have the ability to help our ohana on this approach,” the Benioffs stated of their assertion shared with the press. “Nothing is extra vital than the well being of our group and entry to take care of all who want it.”
NPR’s story about Benioff’s land acquisitions brought about fairly a stir, partially due to Benioff’s bizarre conduct with the journalist who reported the story. Dara Kerr, who interviewed Benioff at one in all his island residences, says that the billionaire knew an odd quantity about her and her household and later known as her boss, the pinnacle govt at NPR, to complain after she and a photographer have been seen taking photos at one in all his properties.
Whereas Kerr wrote in her report that “nearly all of Benioff’s land buys haven’t been about Salesforce or his philanthropy — however somewhat for private use,” a spokesperson for Benioff now appears to be disputing that. The spokesperson told Quartz that “virtually 75% of the land bought” since Benioff started shopping for in Hawaii some 25 years in the past “has been donated to philanthropic causes, together with greater than 90% of the land purchased since 2020.” The spokesperson added that Benioff has “gifted 282 acres of land to a nonprofit constructing inexpensive housing on the Large Island and 158 acres to a separate nonprofit entity.”
Gizmodo reached out to Salesforce for added remark from Benioff and can replace this story once we obtain a response.
Whereas I’m certain Hawaii’s hospitals will respect Benioff’s cash, it’s form of unlucky that wealthy individuals suppose they will justify something by simply throwing extra money round. We don’t actually know what Benioff is doing with all of his properties however the backside line is that this: One individual actually doesn’t want that a lot land.
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