To the post below, it is entirely possible to be extremely wealthy and have no responsibility.
Empirically, however, most people have generated wealth through direct and indirect actions that have benefited and hurt others.
Society has agreed implicitly that those better off should hold some responsibility for those worst off. This is demonstrated via progressive taxation and through societal pressures to give to charity.
You can completely disagree with that statement, which is your prerogative. But in modern society, specifically in the US, this is the status quo.
Furthermore, those in the financial industry have had an outsized impact on the global financial crisis, from which many believe there should be more culpability. Again, you can think differently but I'm just stating facts.
I just question why we feel the need to make them a role model when they do not want to be viewed as a role model and then have the balls to criticize them for not living up to the standards we have placed on role models.
I don't understand why someone with a billion dollars must accept the "responsibility" of being a role model. I aspire to be wealthy. I do not aspire to be a role model. What other people think of me (or my actions) is none of my business.