As noted in Where are the gardens and museums created by the Silicon Valley rich? we seem to be undersupplied with public physical infrastructure relative to the number of super rich Americans. Jeff Bezos was happy to spend about 400 million dollars recently on a sea-level house in Florida (bought three houses recently for a total of $234 million, but there will surely be some renovations), but there is no “Bezos Museum of Contemporary Art” nor a “Bezos Contemplation of Two-Day Delivery Garden”.
Maybe some of our multi-billionaire brothers, sisters, and binary-resisters will be more interested in a lasting physical legacy after their deaths. If so, here’s some inspiration from Lisbon…
The Marquis of Pombal was an important administrator tasked with cleaning up after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake (make sure to stop in the quake museum early in any touristic visit to Lisbon!). He was the Herbert Hoover of 1755, in other words (Hoover ably directed the clean-up after the Climate Change-caused Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, giving Americans for the first time the idea that a bigger government could be more powerful than Nature). Here’s how the Portuguese remember their hero:
(photographed from a 7th floor terrace in the Bankinter building.)
You might reasonably ask how a private citizen can get a town or city to devote a public square to his/her/zir/their memory. Answer: money! Chicago, for example, has $52 billion in unfunded public employee pension obligations (source). America’s richest could plug that hole and enable politicians to keep promising more lavish compensation for government workers. In exchange, a prime downtown location for a monument like the above. (They’d better set this up before the last billionaire departs for Florida!)
Let’s take a closer look at the Lisbon monument:
What would the monument depict for an American multi-billionaire? Why not the acts that led to the riches? For a Warren Buffett monument there could a scene where he closes the door on an IRS official hoping to collect some taxes (combination of business acquisition deferrals and insurance reserve). For Larry Ellison there could be a scene where the cover page of the IBM System R SQL manual is ripped off and replaced with an Oracle cover page. For Judith Faulkner it could be a doctor entranced and baffled by a computer screen while a patient languishes and dies. For those whose billions are derived from family court litigation, e.g., MacKenzie Scott (Bezos) or Melinda Gates, there could be a tally of every time that the billionaire engaged in a sex act with the defendant prior to initiating the divorce lawsuit, e.g.,
For private equity heroes, the monument would depict half of the workers being given pink slips while the other half are loaded down with 80 lbs. of debt per worker. Where I’m stuck is in figuring out what to put on the memorial for a Wall Street billionaire. What are the heroic acts that can be depicted for someone whose billions come from high-risk trades that proved lucky or smart daily trades?
New York State will need to collect about $16 billion per year in fees from billionaires in order to plug its structural budget deficit (source regarding the gap between what politicians promise and what they hope to collect). There are plenty of spots in Central Park in which a deceased billionaire could be glorified. California has more like a $50 billion gap between what politicians want to spend and what can be extracted from the peasants (source). How about a series of memorial parks along Sand Hill Road and another one down near LACMA?
> For Larry Ellison there could be a scene where the cover page of the IBM System R SQL manual is ripped off and replaced with an Oracle cover page
Fun fact: the name Oracle comes from the code-name of a CIA-funded project, where Ellison’s firm was contacted to build a SQL implementation for them.
I have very limited imagination for such things, so I posed the question to ChatGPT. Here is the answer.
“For a majestic statue in NYC honoring a generous billionaire, consider the following ideas:
Heroic Figure: A grand statue depicting the billionaire in a heroic pose, possibly with elements symbolizing their contributions, such as books for education, medical symbols for healthcare, or tools for innovation.
Visionary Theme: A statue capturing the essence of visionary leadership and philanthropy, possibly showing the billionaire looking forward or extending a hand in a gesture of giving.
Integrated Symbolism: Incorporate symbols or elements related to the billionaire’s philanthropy, such as children for education, plants for environmental efforts, or diverse figures representing community support and inclusivity.
Interactive Elements: A statue that includes interactive features, such as plaques telling the story of the billionaire’s contributions, or elements that encourage public engagement, like seating areas or a surrounding plaza.
Iconic Location: Place the statue in a prominent and meaningful location, such as Central Park, Times Square, or near an institution they supported, ensuring high visibility and accessibility.
Timeless Materials: Use timeless and durable materials like bronze, marble, or granite to convey permanence and respect.
Complementary Landscaping: Surround the statue with beautifully designed landscaping, fountains, or reflective pools to create a serene and contemplative environment.
Example Concept
A bronze statue of the billionaire standing tall, with one arm raised and the other holding symbols of their contributions (e.g., a globe for global impact, a book for education, or a medical staff for healthcare). The statue could be placed on a pedestal with inscriptions detailing their achievements and contributions to society, situated in a landscaped area with benches and informational plaques.”
I like the idea of including interactive features.
I suggested cash gifts to ChatGPT.
“Concept: The Generosity Fountain
Design:
Central Statue: The central piece is a majestic bronze statue of the billionaire, standing tall in a welcoming pose, symbolizing generosity and vision.
Rotating Platform: Below the statue, there is a rotating platform featuring sculptures of diverse, adoring people from different walks of life, representing the communities and individuals benefited by the billionaire’s philanthropy.
Interactive Elements:
Cash Gifts: Periodically, the monument could release symbolic “cash gifts” in the form of vouchers, tokens, or coins that can be redeemed for charitable donations or services at designated locations. These could be collected from dispensers around the base of the monument.
Engagement Opportunities: There could be interactive screens or plaques with information about the billionaire’s charitable contributions, stories of impact, and ways for the public to get involved in similar philanthropic efforts.
Surrounding Environment:
Plaza Design: The monument would be situated in a beautifully designed plaza with seating areas, greenery, and fountains to create a welcoming space for reflection and community gatherings.
Lighting and Water Features: Dynamic lighting and water features could be integrated to enhance the visual appeal, especially at night, creating a vibrant and inviting atmosphere.
Educational Component:
Informational Panels: Panels or kiosks around the monument could provide educational information about the causes the billionaire supported, inspiring visitors to learn more about philanthropy and community service.
Location:
Placing the monument in a high-traffic, iconic location such as Central Park, Times Square, or near a major cultural institution would ensure maximum visibility and engagement.
Impact and Message
This monument would not only celebrate the billionaire’s generosity but also actively engage the public in the spirit of giving and community support. The rotating platform with adoring figures and the distribution of symbolic cash gifts would create a dynamic and memorable experience, reinforcing the idea that philanthropy benefits everyone and inspires ongoing generosity.”
I think the adoring people should be real persons who will be rewarded with cash gifts.