My offer

Would you like to give away some of your wealth? I'd take it.

That's the premise of Tired of Wealth. If you're very wealthy and would voluntarily like to give away some of your money, or all of it, I'm offering to be the recipient.

Who I am

My name is Johannes Wegemann. I'm not about to tell you that money means nothing to me. I'm a private individual offering you the opportunity to let go, financially speaking.

I'm German, I live in Ireland and I work from home. I pay so much rent that, despite a decent salary, there's nothing left at the end of the month. And the bank tells me: 'You can't afford the mortgage', even though the repayments would be lower than my rent.

You can read about how I ended up here, and a little more about me, on the About me page.

What exactly am I offering?

Money makes the world go round. Under capitalism, that is a fact of life. But when does your own money start running your life? When does it become a burden? Does it inevitably become one?

I'm offering you the chance to give me your money, or some of it. Yes, you read that correctly. If you feel that having less would leave you with more, you can give me part of your wealth. There'll be no Stripe integration or other payment buttons on this website.

I won't take anything you don't want to give. I won't talk you into anything or put you under pressure. This is an offer. An unconventional one, admittedly, but an honest one. What you make of it is entirely up to you.

Why not simply give to charity?

You absolutely can. Giving to a good organisation can do a great deal of good, and I wouldn't discourage anyone from doing so. I'm not a charity, though. There is no organisation behind me, no charity accreditation, no annual report and no mission to save the world. A charity saves the world. I'd start by saving my Saab.

What I'm offering is simply something different. Your money would not be spread across projects, administration and campaigns. It would go in its entirety to one person and make a tangible difference to his life. No emergency, no sob story, no guilt. Just someone openly admitting that he would be very pleased.

Donations to recognised charities qualify for tax relief in many countries. A private gift to me generally will not. That, too, is part of being honest.

I'm not aware of another offer quite this openly put. Perhaps that alone makes it worth a thought. And if you would like to do both, of course you can.

How would it work?

1. You get in touch.

If you decide you would like to take me up on my offer, please get in touch. Or ask your solicitor or tax adviser to do so. A brief message is enough. Please do not send confidential documents with an initial enquiry.

2. We get to know each other.

We have a conversation, take our time and discuss what you have in mind and whether this really is right for you. I will not accept money from someone who is in a mental health crisis, or where I have reason to think they may later regret it.

3. Your advisers look into it.

This will not be a matter of simply making a bank transfer. The tax implications need to be examined in light of where you are based, and you need to be absolutely sure that you are doing the right thing. For larger amounts, a written gift agreement will generally be drawn up.

4. The transfer.

Through your bank, in the usual way, with a clear trail and proper documentation. Not through this website or through third parties.

Can I change my mind?

Of course. Until the transfer takes place, you can say no at any time, without giving a reason. I will not keep asking, put pressure on you or chase you. It is your decision, and it stays that way.

Once the transfer has taken place, however, a completed gift is generally final. So please take as much time as you need.

What do you get in return?

Honestly? Nothing. No return on your money, no goods or services, no charitable donation receipt.

What I can offer is a sincere thank you. And if we both want to, I'd be happy to stay in touch. I'm a friendly person, and I like people who make unusual decisions.

One thing should be clear, though: you're giving me money, not taking out a subscription to me. Once you give me your money, it's mine. It creates no entitlement to anything, no reporting duties and no obligations on my part. You're not buying me, my time or my opinions. That may sound blunt, but it's precisely what makes a gift different from a transaction.

What would you do with the money?

Good question! I won't be publishing how I spend it. Partly because I don't know yet, and partly because I'm not a charity promising to save the world. I'll share a few wishes, though. I want to keep working, but I'd also like to fulfil a few dreams: have my old Saab fully restored, stop paying rent, and own a house with plenty of land.

Why would being wealthy work out any better for you than for the people giving you the money?

I cannot answer that with any certainty, since I am not wealthy at present. I might struggle just as much as the people I would like to help. Or it might simply enrich my life, take away some worries and give me time for personal projects. One of those is gomunu.com, a website where people can take a free, non-diagnostic personality test without being lured into a subscription trap.

Would you publish my name if I gave you money?

Not without your permission. If you would prefer not to be mentioned, neither the gift nor your name will be made public. If you would like to be mentioned, that is possible too. We can discuss it in person.

Are you acting on someone else’s behalf?

Very wealthy people rarely handle these matters entirely on their own. If you work in a law firm, tax practice, wealth management business or family office and represent someone interested in this offer, please feel free to contact me directly. Discretion goes without saying.

How to tell it is really me

Unfortunately, wherever money is involved, fraudsters are rarely far away. So here are a few things you can rely on:

• I do not contact people out of the blue. You always make the first move.
• I never ask for fees, advance payments or processing charges. Nobody has to pay for the privilege of giving me money. That would be a fairly absurd business model.
• Bank details, copies of identity documents and evidence of wealth are exchanged only through your advisers, never in an ordinary email or messenger conversation.
• I reply only from the address listed on my contact page.
• If someone contacts you claiming to be me or to act for Tired of Wealth, please forward the message to me. I will check it and tell you honestly whether it came from me.

What now?

Perhaps you find the idea amusing. Perhaps you think it's a little cheeky. Or perhaps you're thinking: why not? If so, I'd love to hear from you.