Reply #4: Such a lovely piece written about Peter Munk today!!!

[seemslikeadream]

What timing




PEThttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080412.MUNK12/TPStory/?query=Peter+MunkER

MUNK'S GOLDEN RULE

At 80, the daring impresario of bold business ventures is now turning to bold philanthropy. He believes in giving back, and Toronto, which welcomed him 60 years ago with open arms, is reaping his generosity, reports Andy Hoffman
ANDY HOFFMAN

April 12, 2008

Striding into the office fresh from Europe, the impossibly dapper octogenarian Peter Munk steals a moment to fix his intense gaze out his 37th-floor window and take it all in. He is rewarded with a sprawling vista of a city that he regards with deep gratitude and passion.

A legendary entrepreneur who has forged an indelible mark on the world stage, Mr. Munk is a commanding presence in his trademark double-breasted suit. But when his broad shoulders turn to consider the place that has been his home for six decades, he seems overcome with a sense of child-like wonder.

"To me, Toronto is much more than a place to be from or where you are born. To me, this is a dream place. It never really lost that allure.

"My heart still beats whenever I come back," he says.


The city has served as the staging ground for nearly all of the business dealings that have earned him a massive fortune over the years. Most notable is Barrick Gold Corp., the company he founded here 25 years ago and which has grown to become the world's largest gold-mining firm with a stock-market value close to $40-billion. As the price of bullion has soared to record levels, recently topping $1,000 (U.S.) an ounce, Barrick's share price and Mr. Munk's own wealth have risen to heights beyond even his own lofty ambitions.

His Barrick holdings alone include 2.75-million shares currently valued at $123-million, as well as stock options worth another $22-million.