Craig Newmark, Craigslist founder and philanthropist, launches a blistering critique of fellow billionaires who attack the Giving Pledge in a New York Times essay. Newmark, who signed the pledge committing to give away most of his wealth, calls the criticism 'bizarre' and 'bizarre' in his op-ed 'Craigslist Made Me Rich. Giving the Money Away Is Easy.'

Newmark details his journey from programmer to accidental billionaire, emphasizing his initial reluctance to profit from Craigslist and his eventual decision to charge modest fees to ensure the platform remained free for ordinary users. He highlights his $450 million+ in donations over the past decade to veterans, anti-scam campaigns, and journalism, stating his motivation stems from a desire to help those less fortunate, not personal fulfillment. 'Rich people never seem all that happy,' he writes.

The core of Newmark's argument targets critics who claim Giving Pledge signatories give money foolishly to left-wing causes. He asserts signers can direct funds to any charitable cause they choose, dismissing the political nature of the criticism as irrelevant. 'I don't get into fights over what's woke and what's not,' he states, focusing instead on practical aid. He concludes that the 250+ pledge signatories are simply trying 'to help people who are trying to make life better for all of us humans,' questioning why that isn't seen as a positive goal.