Why everyone should read Sir Ian Wood's wise take on Robert Burns' famous line
Sir Ian Wood dismissed suggestions he might buy a private jet, saying his wealth had created a responsibility towards others
“If Rabbie Burns said ‘to see ourselves as others see us’, then the mirror image of that is to see others as we see ourselves, to look at other people and think ‘well that could be me.’” Sir Ian Wood, who has died at the age of 84, was a remarkable billionaire businessman who remained remarkably humble.
His philosophy had a real effect on his life and he was acutely conscious of the need to tackle inequality. In addition to turning the Wood Group into a multi-billion-pound oil and gas services company, he set up the Wood Foundation to help give part of his vast fortune away.
He laughed at suggestions he might ever buy a private jet. Instead, he found joy in hillwalking and riding his Vespa around rural Perthshire.
His main concern was his family. “Wealth is only worth what you do with it. You only need a certain amount of wealth to live a reasonable life so wealth in some ways becomes a responsibility,” he once said.
“I don’t think money has bought me happiness or unhappiness... Happiness comes from much more important things than money.”
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