Story perspectives

Eddie Smith Jr. Gives Up $400M Grady-White Profits to Charity

7/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. entrepreneur Eddie Smith Jr., 83, pledged all future profits of Grady-White Boats to charity, forgoing a potential $400 million payday.
Smith bought the maker in Greenville, N.C., in 1968 and turned it into a fishing-boat company earning hundreds of millions annually.
He kept full ownership of Grady-White, never taking outside investors or issuing public stock.
Smith said he was inspired by Yvon Chouinard’s 2022 decision to give away his company’s stock.

1 of 1

Story summary

U.S. entrepreneur Eddie Smith Jr., 83, pledged all future profits of Grady-White Boats to charity, forgoing a potential $400 million payday.
Smith bought the maker in Greenville, N.C., in 1968 and turned it into a fishing-boat company earning hundreds of millions annually.
He kept full ownership of Grady-White, never taking outside investors or issuing public stock.
Smith said he was inspired by Yvon Chouinard’s 2022 decision to give away his company’s stock.