Hunter grew up in New Cumnock, a Scottish village near the west coast town of Troon, where he still has his principal home (the other is in the south of France) and his business offices. It is a raw neighborhood, scarred by mine closures, and his own land's plight concerns him.
Some of Hunter's first philanthropic ventures were designed to instill entrepreneurial instincts in Scottish school children by introducing them to the profit and loss of running a pizza business.
It was only this year, though, that Hunter emerged from relative obscurity. His name is still not widely known in Britain. After a fundraising dinner with Clinton and an invitation to join the former president on a tour of African countries, Hunter embarked with Clinton on a trip in July that led to the announcement, in October, of the US$100 million Clinton-Hunter Development Initiative.
It was in October, too, that Prince Charles laid a ceremonial sword on Hunter's shoulders to bestow a knighthood on him.
"I was incredibly proud," he said. "I had a feeling of disbelief. So much in such a short period of time."
Hunter takes pains to distinguish his projects from traditional aid projects. He calls the strategies of international aid agencies "a busted flush," accusing them of caring more about their own survival than about the poor. He describes his US$100 million contribution as a "drop in the ocean," and is determined that his philanthropy will be run on business lines with clear targets and exit strategies.
For all his far-flung ambitions, Hunter depicts himself as something of a family man, a homebody. His father, Campbell Hunter, 78, has a job in his company, and his wife plays a major role in the charitable foundation. His three children -- two boys and a girl, all between 10 and 15 -- accompany their parents to Africa.
"It's good that they see life isn't all about private planes and boats," he said.
He likes to be home at night whenever he can, Hunter said, particularly Sundays when he eats fish and chips with his former school friends of less exalted financial status.
"It keeps me grounded," he said.
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