Craig Newmark, the 74‑year‑old founder of Craigslist, has donated roughly $500 million to charitable causes since the classified‑ads site launched three decades ago. He signed The Giving Pledge last year and used his philanthropy to counter a growing trend among the ultra‑rich toward flaunting wealth. Newmark’s stance fuels debate over the role of billionaire generosity in America. His giving targets cybersecurity, journalism and veteran support.

Meanwhile, public figures such as former President Donald Trump have amplified displays of opulence, boosting his net worth from $4.3 billion to $7.3 billion and earmarking $600 million for White House renovations. Venture capitalist Peter Thiel recently urged peers to abandon The Giving Pledge, labeling it a “left‑wing” scheme. Newmark criticized those comments in a New York Times op‑ed, calling the rhetoric “incomprehensible.” The backlash underscores cultural tension.

Newmark attributes his modest lifestyle to lessons learned in a 1950s Jewish Community Center Sunday school, where Holocaust survivors taught him to treat others kindly. He forgoes a car, rides New York City transit, and runs Craig Newmark Philanthropies, supporting cybersecurity, journalism and veteran families. He believes ordinary people can act.