The Kind Couple Who Gave Away Their Fortune: The Story of Roy and Nola Thompson

ELI5 Note: This is a true story about a husband and wife who became very rich but chose to live simply and give almost all their money away to help others. Think of it like saving up a giant piggy bank your whole life, then smashing it open to share the coins with everyone in your neighborhood.

Who Were Roy and Nola Thompson?

Roy and Nola Thompson were a married couple from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. They were famous in their community—but not for fancy cars or big parties. They were famous for kindness.

• Roy was a businessman who built hotels and developed property (that means he bought land, built things on it, and sold or rented them).
• Nola was his partner in everything—raising kids, making decisions, and giving back.
• Together, they donated tens of millions of dollars to charities, hospitals, schools, and research centers.
• They were married for 69 years and had eight children.

A Love Story That Lasted 69 Years

Important Point: Roy and Nola died just eight days apart in August 2026. Nola passed away first from Stage 4 ovarian cancer. Roy followed soon after. Their son Peter said simply: "His prognosis was a broken heart."

• Nola died first after battling Stage 4 ovarian cancer (a serious illness).
• Roy died 8 days later on August 7, 2026.
• They were 87 and 86 years old.
• Even in their final days, their love and partnership remained the center of their story.

How They Made Their Money

Roy didn’t start out rich. He grew up in a humble home where his dad worked at a gasworks factory. Money was tight.

Roy’s Journey to Success:

1. Early Years: Worked as a builder. In the 1970s, he and Nola raised 8 kids on a modest wage.
2. 1972: Built Chifley’s Hotel—a famous landmark and entertainment hub.
3. 1978: Sold Chifley’s to a big hotel group.
4. After That: Bought the Mooloolaba Hotel and developed more properties across the Sunshine Coast.
5. Result: These smart moves made them multi-millionaires.

Important Point: Even after becoming wealthy, they never changed how they lived. No mansions. No yachts. No flashy clothes. They stayed the same humble people they’d always been.

Why They Gave It All Away

Roy had a simple philosophy. He once said:

"I’m 87, can’t live forever, can’t take it with you, so why shouldn’t you give it to people where you’ve made the money? I’ve made a lot of money here and why not give it back?"

Their Giving Rules (Simple but Powerful):

• Give where you live – 90% of donations stayed on the Sunshine Coast.
• Give while you’re alive – They wanted to see the difference their money made.
• Give quietly – They hated the spotlight. No press tours. No naming buildings after themselves (except when others insisted).
• Give to what matters – Health, education, mental health, families in crisis.

The Amazing Things They Built and Funded

Here are just some of the gifts that changed lives:

University of the Sunshine Coast (by 2018: $15 million total)

• $7 million for the Thompson Institute – a mental health and neuroscience research center.
• Nola Thompson Centre for Advanced Imaging – named in her honor.
• Scholarships and grants locked in through 2075 – that’s 50+ years of students helped!

Sunshine Coast Rescue Helicopter Service (1979)

• Roy launched it himself—because he saw a need and filled it.

Wishlist Centre ($2 million)

• Affordable housing for patients and families visiting the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

Thompson Charitable Fund ($5+ million, 2021)

• Given to the Buderim Foundation to keep helping local causes forever.

Honors (Which They Didn’t Brag About)

• Order of Australia (one of the country’s highest honors).
• Queensland Higher Education Philanthropists of the Year (2017).

Important Point: When Roy was honored, Nola said: "We’re not social people." You wouldn’t find them at fancy galas. You’d find them at home, planning the next donation.

Living Simply and Paying It Forward

Roy wanted others to do the same. He said:

"There are a lot of people that have a lot more money than they need, and I think it’s up to them to start giving. Let’s face it, they can’t take it with them."

What “Living Humbly” Looked Like for Them:

• Drove older cars.
• Lived in a modest home.
• Ate simple meals.
• Spent time with family, not at parties.
• Measured success by how much they gave away—not how much they kept.

Their Legacy: A Community Transformed

Because of Roy and Nola:

• Students get scholarships for decades to come.
• Mental health research gets a world-class center.
• Families have a place to stay during medical crises.
• Emergency helicopter rescues save lives.
• Local charities have a permanent fund to draw from.

As Brendan Hogan, CEO of Wishlist, said:

"Roy and Nola in very real, humble ways helped to change the face of philanthropy on the Sunshine Coast."

Summary

Roy and Nola Thompson didn’t just leave money behind. They left a blueprint for how to live generously.

FAQ: Questions You Might Have

Q1: Were they billionaires?

A: No one knows their exact net worth, but they were described as multi-millionaires. What matters isn’t how much they had—it’s how much they gave.

Q2: Why did they give so much to the Sunshine Coast?

A: Because that’s where they made their money. Roy believed: “I’ve made a lot of money here and why not give it back?” They wanted to say “thank you” to the community that supported them.

Q3: Did they give to big national charities?

A: Mostly no. 90% of their donations stayed local. They wanted to see the impact with their own eyes.

Q4: Why didn’t they want attention?

A: They genuinely didn’t care about fame. Nola said, “We’re not social people.” They gave because it was the right thing to do—not for applause.

Q5: Can regular people be philanthropists too?

A: Absolutely! Philanthropy just means “love of humanity.” You don’t need millions. You can:

• Donate $5 a month.
• Volunteer your time.
• Share skills.
• Help a neighbor.
  Roy would say: Start where you are. Give what you can.