World's rich stop taking and start giving

GENEVA (Reuters) - After years of taking, the world's aging rich increasingly want to give back to the communities where they earned their fortunes, according to top bankers to the wealthy.

While the "moderately" rich -- defined as those with investable assets of up to 5 million euros ($6.3 million) -- still hold their purse strings tightly, the super-rich are becoming more generous, bankers say.

Following in the footsteps of investor Warren Buffet and Microsoft (MSFT.O) co-founder Bill Gates, who have donated tens of billions to charity, more are turning to their bankers to ask how they can spend their fortunes to help others.

"Philanthropy is becoming huge in the industry," says Marianne Hay, head of Citigroup's (C.N) European wealth management arm, speaking at the Reuters Wealth Management summit.

"People want to put more back and leave a legacy. That can cover charity work to investing in healthcare or the environment," she told the Summit, held at Reuters' offices in Geneva.

Said Christopher Meares, head of HSBC's (HSBA.L)(0005.HK) wealthy clients business: "Charitable giving is mainstream in the U.S. already ... I think it will grow in continental Europe."

The number of high net worth individuals -- a term for those with at least $1 million of net assets excluding their home -- has climbed steadily to reach 8.7 million around the world last year, according to a report by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini -- around 6 percent higher than in 2004.

MORE BILLIONAIRES

The super-wealthy with more than $30 million to invest, meanwhile, grew by more than 10 percent globally to 85,400.

The billionaire elite is also bigger than ever. In 2006, Forbes counted a record 793 billionaires around the world -- up from 691 in 2005 and almost 50 percent more than five years ago.

It is a trend that Christopher von Oppenheim, one of the co-owners of German private bank Sal Oppenheim, has witnessed in Europe's biggest economy.

The Cologne-based financier counts about a quarter of Germany's wealthiest individuals and families among his clients.

"Germany had a big tradition of (charitable) foundations before the first world war," Von Oppenheim says. "But inflation killed that."

"Now, we are seeing much more of that again. We have seen 50 years of political stability and positive economic development. The German mentality has not changed and we are seeing an increase in the business of advising foundations."

For those who are still building their businesses and wealth, however, charity is pushed down their list of priorities.

"If you drink Coca-Cola, after a liter you throw it away. It is the same with wealth," says Bernard Coucke, head of ING Group's (ING.AS) private banking arm. "You need to have a certain level and then you can spend it."

"People with maybe one to three million might give 1,000 or 2,000 euros a year."

But with wealth rising, the trend is to give, says Bertrand Lavayssiere of consultant Capgemini.

"The Woodstock generation has a different view of wealth. I've been in meetings with people who ask, what's the point of being rich? I have 300 million. If I have 350 million, what's the difference?"