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An Austrian who is giving away his £3million fortune because it makes him unhappy has launched an online raffle for his Alpine villa.
Karl Rabeder, 47, is selling his properties and possessions and will donate the cash to charities, including to victims of the Haiti earthquake.
The businessman, from Telfs near Innsbruck, decided to give up his lifestyle after concluding that wealth made him miserable.
Mr Rabeder amassed his fortune from an interior furnishings business, which he went on to sell. He has launched an online raffle to dispose of his £1.4million villa, complete with a lake and sauna. Tickets sell at £87.
The winner will be selected on 28 February. Mr Rabeder, who plans to live in a bedsit, said: "My idea is to have nothing left." He is now divorced.
Reader views (7)
Most people dreamed about this amount of money. I also absolutely respect his decision. The happiness seems not equal to the wealth. That's what we have learnt. People buy the lottery ticket and sometimes win the lottery but we often hear the news that in the end they get even poorer than before. Mostly their life is ruined. but I am also a human who want to be a millionair one day and contribute to the society like him. When I was working at the charity shop as a volunteer, I knew how difficult to contribute to the charity without expecting anything return. this probably the most difficult decision to make in life but maybe the most worhwile one. I hope now he feels happiness in his life. and I think he will
- Jung-Ah, london England, 11/02/2010 12:31
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One never knows what someone is going through, and how would any of us know how he feels not being rich All we know is how it feels not to have any money. I wish him happiness and i hope he follows his dream to happiness
Becca
- Becca, Chapel Hill nc USA, 10/02/2010 21:25
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This idiot is the type of person who isn't happy being rich and definitely won't be happy being poor either.
Kudos for donating to Hati however..
- Justin, London, 10/02/2010 13:09
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why not keep the house but use it as a refuge for battered women/children etc as I do with one of my properties. That way he will get the necessary kick from charitable deeds but in the future if circumstances change, he will still have somewhere decent to live?
- Jonathan Pryce, London, 10/02/2010 12:27
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"He is now divorced."
Not surprised!
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 09/02/2010 15:22
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I do respect him as well. I just wonder if, one day, he will regret this and then, when he needs money himself, no one will help him. Because, I am afraid to say, Tyroleans have grown very stingy and selfish over the last years. As it is everywhere, the more modern and wealthy we get, the less we think about others.
I wish him all the luck for his future and hope he will be happy for eternity.
- Sabina, London, England, 09/02/2010 12:49
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I respect this man.
- Ancient Wisdom, London, England, 09/02/2010 12:15
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