Billionaire’s environmental philanthropy questioned in Vox interview
7 reported
A Vox reporter interviewed billionaire investor and philanthropist Tom Kaplan about his environmental giving, revealing tensions between his mining business and wildlife conservation. Kaplan auctioned a Rembrandt drawing for nearly $18 million, donating proceeds to Panthera, a wild cat conservation group he co-founded. During the interview, Kaplan rejected the suggestion that mining harms wildlife, calling the question a "hack journalist" inquiry. Vox later interviewed four mining experts who disputed Kaplan's claim, and Panthera itself lists mining as a threat to two wild cat species. Kaplan declined further comment after the initial interview. The article notes this pattern extends to other billionaires, including Jeff Bezos and shipping magnates, whose philanthropy contrasts with their industries' environmental impacts.
What’s reported
Tom Kaplan auctioned a Rembrandt drawing for nearly $18 million at Sotheby's in New York City in early 2026.
Kaplan is founder and chair of The Electrum Group, an investment firm focused on mining precious metals, and chair of NovaGold Resources.
Kaplan told Vox mining has "a very, very tiny footprint" compared to agriculture and climate change.
Four mining experts interviewed by Vox disputed Kaplan's claim that mining has no detrimental impact on wild cats.
Panthera, the group Kaplan co-founded, lists mining as a threat to the flat-headed cat and the Andean cat.
The IUCN lists "mining and quarrying" as a threat to 19 cat species including jaguars, Andean cats, and tigers.
Kaplan declined further comment after Vox shared a detailed list of reporting with him.
Key figures
Tom Kaplan, billionaire investor and philanthropist, founder and chair of The Electrum Group, chair of NovaGold Resources
Sara Herschander, Vox colleague of the reporter
Stephen Prince, multimillionaire, vice-chair of Patriotic Millionaires
Glen Galaich, author of "Control: Why Big Giving Falls Short," CEO of Stupski Foundation
Jessie Bluedorn, young philanthropist and environmental organizer, founder of Carmack Collective
Tamara Toles O'Laughlin, CEO of Environmental Grantmakers Association
Sources: vox.com
