Johnnie Cochran: OJs and No Js

On June 16, 1994, America was transfixed by a slow moving, white Ford Bronco creeping down the 405 freeway in Los Angeles pursued by a phalanx of police vehicles and news helicopters. The owner of the vehicle would be arrested in his driveway and charged with murder.

Pioneers of Microsoft

We look back at some of the scientists and others who helped make Microsoft one of the most influential tech companies in the world.

10 Things to Know About Tenor Luciano Pavarotti

Here are 10 memorable moments from the career of tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

Manute Bol: Big Man, Big Heart

We remember Manute Bol, one of the tallest and nicest guys to ever play in the NBA.

Paul Newman: Irresistible

A Los Angeles Times writer once described them as "Windex eyes." If you are missing actor-racer-entrepreneur-philanthropist Paul Newman's baby blues, just stroll down the grocery aisle and they'll be peering back at you from bottles of salad dressing, jars of pasta sauce, cereals, marinades, pizza, popcorn and even cat food – just to name a few.

Joan Kroc, Unconventional Philanthropist

Joan Kroc, billionaire widow of McDonald's owner Ray Kroc, sought no fanfare or recognition for her generosity, giving her gifts quietly and surprising dozens of charities with donations big and small.

Doris Duke: Money, Mansions and Men

Eccentric heiress Doris Duke did not leave any heirs, but she enhanced many people’s lives through the reported $1.3 billion she left to foundations ...

The Unlikely Millionaire Philanthropist

Aside from his habit of reading The Wall Street Journal, Vermont resident Ronald Read gave no outward indication he was a millionaire. He wore a denim jacket held together with safety pins, and a local woman once knitted him a winter hat when she noticed how his baseball cap was falling apart.

Remembering Sir Edmund Hillary

In 1953 Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first to climb to the summit of Mt Everest.

Bruce Dayton (1918 - 2015)

Bruce Dayton, the father of Minnesota's governor and a key figure in building his family's company into the massive retailing business that became Target Corp., has died, according to The Associated Press. He was 97. Dayton died at his home surrounded by family on Friday, according to the governor's spokesman, Matt Swenson.

Lillian Vernon (1927 - 2015), mail order catalog founder

Lillian Vernon, the businesswoman who founded the mail-order catalog company that bears her name, has died. She was 88. Vernon, whose corporation was the first company founded by a woman to be traded on the American Stock Exchange, died Monday in Manhattan, New York. No cause of death was announced.

Afeni Shakur (1947–2016), Tupac Shakur's mother

Afeni Shakur, the mother of the late hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur, died May 2, 2016, according to multiple news sources. She was 69.

Betsy Bloomingdale (1922 - 2016), philanthropist and fashion icon

Betsy Bloomingdale, the widow of department store heir Alfred Bloomingdale and one of former first lady Nancy Reagan's best friends, died July 19, 2016, in Los Angeles, according to multiple news sources. She was 93. Betsy Bloomingdale was well-known for her philanthropic efforts, hosting many lavish parties for charity. She also was regarded as fashion icon. She dispensed fashion advice to Nancy Reagan, and in 2009 she was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame. She was born Betty Lee Newling Aug. 2, 1922, in Los Angeles. She married Alfred Bloomingdale in 1946; he was the grandson of department store co-founder Lyman Bloomingdale. Alfred Bloomingdale preceded his wife in death, in 1982.

Juan Gabriel (1950 - 2016), legendary Mexican singer

Juan Gabriel, a legendary Mexican singer, died Aug. 28, 2016, according to multiple news sources. He was 66.

Betty Jane France

Betty Jane France, the founder of the NASCAR Foundation and wife of the late NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., died Monday, according to her family.

Tony Martell (1926–2016), T.J. Martell Foundation founder

Music executive who founded the T.J. Martell Foundation for leukemia research.

David Rockefeller (1915 - 2017), Rockefeller family patriarch

David Rockefeller, the patriarch of the Rockefeller family and a former chairman and chief executive of Chase Manhattan Bank, died Monday, March 20, 2017. He was 101. Rockefeller was quietly one of the leading international figures of the 20th century. Both as a member of the wealthy Rockefeller family and as the chairman and chief executive of Chase Manhattan Bank, he wielded tremendous influence on the world stage. In the wake of World War II, he was a key player in the drive to integrate economics and politics into a single worldwide system. Writing in his autobiography, "Memoirs," he addressed his critics and explained his goals as he saw them. "Populists and isolationists ignore the tangible benefits that have resulted from our active international role during the past half-century." He continued, "There have been fundamental improvements in societies around the world, particularly in the United States, as a result of global trade, improved communications, and the heightened interaction of people from different cultures."

Dina Merrill (1923 - 2017), actress and philanthropist

Socialite became a popular film actress in the 1950s and '60s...

Princess Diana: Style and Substance

More than two decades after her death, we continue to be fascinated by Princess Diana.

Frank Liberto (1933–2017), the man who introduced nachos to ballparks

Texas entrepreneur developed pumpable cheese sauce.

Jon Huntsman Sr. (1937 - 2018), Utah billionaire donated millions to cancer research

Utah billionaire and philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr., who overcame poverty to become one of the state's most successful and powerful people, died Friday at age 80, according to The Associated Press.

Paul Allen (1953–2018), Microsoft co-founder

Started Microsoft with his childhood friend Bill Gates

Richard Proudfit (1929–2018), founder of Feed My Starving Children charity

Richard Proudfit founded Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), a Christian non-profit organization that sends nutritious meals to hungry children worldwide.

Ron Joyce (1930–2019), cofounder of Tim Hortons donut chain

Helped the hockey legend create a donut empire.

Ted Lindsay (1925–2019), Detroit Red Wings legend

Hall of Famer was known for his tough play.

Marilynn Smith (1929–2019), LPGA founder

The pro golfer was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Henry Bloch (1922–2019), co-founder of tax preparation giant H&R Block

The H&R Block founder was a beloved philanthropist in his hometown of Kansas City.

How (and Why) to Make a Charitable Bequest

Here's how you can leave a philanthropic legacy to benefit an organization you care about.

T. Boone Pickens (1928–2019), legendary oil tycoon

Colorful Texas businessman was a generous philanthropist.

Barron Hilton (1927–2019), hotel heir and Los Angeles Chargers founder

Barron Hilton was the son of Conrad Hilton who took over the Hilton Hotels business and expanded it to include casinos. He was also a founding owner in the American Football League as the original owner of the Los Angeles Chargers.

Leila Janah (1982–2020), Samasource CEO who employed the poor

Leila Janah was an entrepreneur who founded Samasource with the goal of raising up deeply impoverished people in Africa and India by giving them jobs. Janah had been working as a consultant for an outsourcing firm, which employed middle-class Indian workers to do digital jobs like tagging and annotating images. She wondered why those jobs couldn’t be done by the poor, who desperately needed the employment — so she founded Samasource, providing training and living wages to thousands of women and others in poverty. The work they do generates data used for video game technology, self-driving car research, and more. Janah later founded the luxury cosmetics line LXMI, which also employs the poor to harvest and process ingredients.

Anne Cox Chambers (1919–2020), media heiress and former ambassador

Anne Cox Chambers was a media heiress and philanthropist who was U.S. ambassador to Belgium during Jimmy Carter’s presidency. The daughter of former Ohio governor and one-time presidential candidate James Middleton Cox, she was heiress to the family business, Cox Enterprises, which includes cable provider Cox Communications, Kelley Blue Book, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Chambers was a major donor to Carter’s presidential campaign and supported other Democrats including President Barack Obama. A billionaire before giving much of her fortune to her children in recent years, Chambers was a noted Atlanta philanthropist with beneficiaries including the High Museum of Art, the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, and local animal welfare organizations. She was one of the first women to sit on the boards of companies including Coca-Cola.

Jason Davis (1984–2020), voice of Mikey Blumberg on “Recess”

Jason Davis was an actor best known for providing the voice of Mikey Blumberg on the Disney Channel’s “Recess” from 1997 to 2001, as well as in the show’s spinoff movies. He had roles in movies including “Beverly Hills Ninja” (1997) and “Rush Hour” (1998), and made TV appearances on shows including “Roseanne” and “7th Heaven.” At the time of his death, Davis was working on a TV show called “The Two Jasons.”

Rosalind P. Walter (1924–2020), the original Rosie the Riveter

Rosalind P. Walter was an heiress whose work building fighter planes during World War II inspired the creation of Rosie the Riveter. In later years, she became a philanthropist who supported causes including wildlife conservation, public television, and education opportunities for disadvantaged young people.

Doris Buffett (1928–2020), philanthropist who was Warren Buffett’s sister

Doris Buffett was a philanthropist who was the older sister of billionaire Warren Buffett and helped with his charitable giving efforts.

William Gates Sr. (1925–2020), philanthropist and father of Bill Gates

William Gates Sr. was a lawyer and philanthropist who was the father of Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates.

S. Prestley Blake (1914–2021), co-founder of Friendly’s restaurant chain

S. Prestley Blake co-founded the Friendly’s chain of restaurants along with his brother, Curtis Blake.

Walter Scott Jr. (1931–2021), billionaire businessman and philanthropist

Walter Scott Jr. was a billionaire businessman and philanthropist, the CEO of Peter Kiewit Sons Inc.

Bruton Smith (1927–2022), NASCAR track owner and Hall of Famer

Bruton Smith was the founder and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, who owned NASCAR tracks including the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Bruce Katz (1947–2022), Rockport Shoe Company founder

Bruce Katz was the founder of the Rockport Shoe Company, where he pioneered walking shoes, and Samuel Hubbard, the luxury comfort shoe company.

Abigail Kawānanakoa (1926–2022), Hawaii’s “last princess”

Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa was an descendent of Hawaii’s royal family who was called the last Hawaiian princess.

Pat McCormick (1930–2023), Olympic gold medal-winning diver

Four-time Olympic gold-winning diver Pat McCormick was so dominant, she won two medals in the 1956 games just five months after giving birth to her son, Tim. She was among the most dominant competitors in her field, winning 26 titles in an 11-year span, including two undefeated seasons. When not competing, she pursued adventure where she could, including mountain climbing, traveling the Amazon, and piloting planes.

Sam Zell (1941–2023), billionaire real estate tycoon 

Sam Zell was a billionaire real estate investor who was nicknamed “the Grave Dancer” for his tactic of acquiring distressed companies.0

Dick Butkus (1942–2023), Hall of Fame Chicago Bears linebacker

Dick Butkus was a Hall of Fame linebacker for the Chicago Bears and an eight-time Pro Bowl player before becoming an actor, broadcaster, and philanthropist.

Florine Mark (1933–2023), former Weight Watchers president and CEO

Florine Mark was a businesswoman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a former president and CEO of Weight Watchers. 

Peter Seidler (1960–2023), owner of the San Diego Padres

Peter Seidler was a businessman and philanthropist who owned the MLB team the San Diego Padres. 

Herbert Kohl (1935–2023), former Senator and co-founder of Kohl’s 

Herbert Kohl was a businessman, politician, and philanthropist who was a former U.S. Senator, previous owner of the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team, and co-founder of Kohl’s department stores with his brother and father.0

Si Spiegel (1924–2024), WWII hero and artificial Xmas tree pioneer 

Si Spiegel was a World War II bomber pilot who flew missions over Berlin and became a pioneer in modernizing artificial Christmas trees after the war.

Jacob Rothschild (1936–2024), financier and philanthropist

Jacob Rothschild was a financier and philanthropist from the Rothschild banking dynasty who walked away from his family’s empire to forge his own path.