4. When philanthropy is intertwined with tax evasion
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
Private equity billionaireRobert Smith — the richest Black person in America — spent 15 years evading taxes on more than $200 million of income, by parking it in secret offshore accounts.
When he was caught, he agreed to pay a fine of $140 million, thereby avoiding criminal prosecution. By that point, he'd donated all of the money to charity.