Indian American author and journalist Anand Giridharadas has been named to TIME Magazine’s inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy list for 2025, joining a prestigious group of changemakers and thought leaders shaping the future of global giving.
Featured under the “Innovators” category, Giridharadas is celebrated not for giving away billions, but for his powerful critique of how philanthropy by the ultra-wealthy can often mask deeper systemic issues.
A Voice of Dissent in the Philanthropic World
Giridharadas catapulted into the public discourse with his groundbreaking 2018 book, Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World.
In it, he dismantles the notion that billionaire philanthropists are unequivocal heroes. Instead, he argues that elite giving often serves as a smokescreen to preserve inequality and avoid structural change.
The book sparked widespread debate across media, boardrooms, and academia, challenging society to re-examine who truly benefits from high-profile charity.
Seven years later, Giridharadas’s message has only become more urgent. TIME Magazine notes that his thesis remains profoundly relevant in an era where billionaires like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg wield unprecedented influence over public life and policy.
“I want to thank the billionaire class for making a case for what I was trying to argue much better than I ever could,” Giridharadas said. “They have staged a play in public to show why this level of wealth is dangerous.”
A Call for Systemic Reform
Rather than relying on the generosity of the ultra-wealthy, Giridharadas champions a more democratic model of wealth redistribution.
He argues that governments should play a central role in addressing inequality, not individual benefactors.
“The better alternative to billionaire philanthropy,” he says, “is a democratic system where the ultrarich pay their appropriate share of taxes and elected governments decide how to allocate those funds.”
Hope in a New Generation
Despite the deep critique at the core of his work, Giridharadas remains hopeful, particularly about the attitudes of younger generations. He believes Gen Z represents a pivotal shift in how society views wealth and influence.
“They get it,” he says. “I feel like they’re the first generation of Americans in my lifetime to not be brainwashed by the story of the billionaire hero.”
A Prolific Career in Journalism and Commentary
Giridharadas’s influence extends beyond his books. A former columnist for The New York Times, he now serves as editor-at-large at TIME, a political analyst for MSNBC, and a visiting scholar at New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute.
His other works include India Calling (2011), a personal reflection on modern India; The True American (2014), a story of justice and redemption in post-9/11 America; and The Persuaders (2022), which examines how activists and thinkers are reframing American politics through empathy and persuasion.
Indian Voices on the Global Philanthropic Stage
Giridharadas is joined on the TIME100 Philanthropy list by several other prominent Indian and Indian-origin figures.
Mukesh and Nita Ambani are recognized for their extensive empowerment and community development initiatives, while tech magnate Azim Premji is honored for his longstanding philanthropic leadership in education.
Entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, is featured under the “Trailblazers” category for pioneering unconventional philanthropic strategies aimed at scalable impact.
