Anonymous benefactor leaves 910,000 euros to city of Milan: "Use it for those who need it most"

©Daryan Shamkhali via Unsplash

An unexpected legacy, without much fanfare but with the potential to make a difference for many people in need. In Milan, a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous has decided to leave a significant amount of money to the city: 910,000 euros, with a very clear wish. That money is to be used to help people who are in a vulnerable position.

The news came out through a council decree approved by the College of Mayor and Aldermen led by Mayor Giuseppe Sala, through which the Palazzo Marino board officially accepted the testamentary bequest. The donor, who died August 31, 2025, had decided some time earlier that a significant portion of his estate would be allocated to the city. A discreet choice that remained hidden until the formalization of the document.

A sum earmarked for social services

The money will not remain unused in the municipal accounts. In fact, the amount is entrusted to the Councilor for Welfare, Alberto Bertolè, who is tasked with converting it into concrete measures for the most vulnerable. The funds come from money that was in bank accounts and from the sale of securities and bonds that belonged to the benefactor.

The objective is clear: to use this amount for social projects and support measures for residents in the greatest difficulty, strengthening the facilities that are already trying to assist vulnerable families and people in financial difficulty.

The assets and the choice of 20%

Some details about the husband's decision emerge from the information in the municipal records. The bequest to the municipality represents about 20% of his liquid assets. The rest of the assets were divided among the heirs designated in the will. Based on a rough calculation, the total assets - excluding any real estate - are estimated at about 4.55 million euros. A considerable fortune, part of which was deliberately earmarked for the community.

A will drafted years ago

The decision was not made at the last minute. In fact, the document containing the disposition is an olographic will, written entirely by hand by the benefactor himself. It bears the date Aug. 8, 2023, more than two years before his death. Only after his death was the document handed over to the municipal services: it entered the archives of Palazzo Marino on September 26, 2025, a few weeks after his death. From then on, administrative procedures were initiated to officially accept the bequest.

A donation that becomes city property

Even without a name, the gesture has already made its mark. That amount is not just a financial legacy, but an act of solidarity with the community. For Milan, it means turning a portion of private wealth into public resources for the most vulnerable. And while the identity of the benefactor remains hidden, his desire is crystal clear: to ensure that that money turns into concrete help for those who need it most.

(©GreenMe.it 2026 / Managing Editor: Julie Morgan - The Press Junction / Picture: ©Daryan Shamkhali via Unsplash)