Bill Gates, the world's most generous person, says that as long as he helps eradicate deadly diseases like polio and malaria, he doesn't care if he's forgotten after his death.

FORBES: Bill Gates

"Companies are usually generous'' when long-serving executives leave for family or health reasons, and "often provide immediate vesting of outstanding options, '' said Mr. Reilly, a partner at Compensation Consulting Consortium LLC in Chicago.

WSJ: Behind a CEO's Departure: An Ouster or Resignation?

Jewish Americans long have been generous to the Democratic Party, but key fund-raisers and Jewish leaders across the country suggest that Lieberman's nomination has sent Jewish voters to their checkbooks in record numbers.

CNN: latimes.com: Lieberman lures a wave of new political money

The lower castes also lose out on generous benefits, such as transport allowances, company pensions, subsidised insurance and paid holiday (though regular workers have long been pressured not to use it, to show dedication to the company).

ECONOMIST: The perils of a frigid labour market