the philanthropist

what do you get when you cross a british rock star with an american billionaire?

sting was at a brazilian bar a few years ago when he met a fellow traveler. the man had a distinctive boston accent and a great story to tell. he wanted danger & excitement in his life. he wasn’t happy just wallowing in wealth and he wanted to give it away. tons of it.

it’s easy to throw around the phrase “life-changing” but it describes the path the man chose when he decided to give his dollars some mileage on a full-time basis. no mere check-signing and photo ops though. he practiced his “eyeball-to-eyeball” philanthropy, making his way to poor countries and getting in the thick of things. he has even lived in a tent in pakistan and has shared a toilet with 40 monks in the himalayas.

sting hit it off with the flamboyant american and they ended up as good friends and travel buddies. the englishman was so inspired by his friend that he worked to have a show based on his adventures. flash forward to this month and sting and his wife’s pitch has become “the philanthropist” on nbc.

of course, the tv version is glamorized. he's a suave briton living the CEO life in the big apple (“englishman in new york" is cheekily played in the background in one scene). a lady’s man who thinks nothing of tipping a pretty bartender with $1,000. he works his charm in africa and seduces the skeptical doctor who needs his help getting vaccines. and unlike the real philanthropist, he doesn’t bring along his entire family on his altruistic expeditions.

more on bobby sager (the real deal) and his traveling foundation and roadshow here.