The Gospel Of Wealth

    The Gospel of Wealth is Andrew Carnegie’s 1889 philosophy that the rich have a moral duty to use their wealth to benefit society rather than hoard it or leave it to heirs. Definition And Core Idea: The Gospel of Wealth was articulated by Andrew Carnegie in 1889, during the Gilded Age, a period of rapid industrialization and extreme economic inequality in the United States. Carnegie argued that the wealthy should act as trustees of their fortunes, using their surplus wealth to support public institutions and initiatives that promote education, culture, and self-improvement, rather than indulging in personal extravagance or leaving large inheritances to heirs. He famously stated, “The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced,” emphasizing the moral responsibility of the rich to give back during their lifetimes.  - Carnegie.org