ABSTRACT
Sports stars, going back to the inception of the Olympics in ancient Greece, have long been acclaimed as heroes whose superhuman achievements demonstrate that man can rise to the level of the gods, even if only for a moment. The new philanthropist is more powerful than the role model of the sports star because he is someone who has converted his narcissism into altruism. The incentive to perform well and to achieve recognition are still there, but are now coupled with the power attached to giving to others. Narcissistic gratification is achieved through an act of selflessness. Whereas the sports star has to overcome his selfish drives through the discipline of training and adherence to the rules of the game, the philanthropist gives others’ needs priority over his own. Disasters often bring out the best in people and also afford an opportunity for new role models to emerge.
