After being criticized several times for his lavish lifestyle, it seems that the "Wolf of Wall Street" actor Leonardo DiCaprio has decided to put his money to a humanitarian cause. The actor's foundation announced on July 14, Tuesday, that it had provided a whopping $15 million to be distributed to several organizations as grants to help save the planet.
"We have a responsibility to innovate a future where the habitability of our planet does not come at the expense of those who inhabit it," said the 40-year-old actor in a press release he called to announce the grant money, further informing that the grant has been given to groups including Amazon Watch, Save the Elephants, Tree People and World Wildlife Fund, The Guardian reported.
The "Titanic" star, well-known for his active involvement in environmental causes, founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998 to help and conribute in the protection of the planet and its endangered species.
A considerable part of the recent grant is expected to go to organizations working to protect the endangered gorillas in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The subject of saving the race of ape is known to be close to the actor's heart and he has also produced a documentary last year, titled "Virunga."
This is not the first time that the actor has given an extravagant donation for philanthropic causes. He had reportedly given $3 million to the World Wildlife Fund to protect endangered tigers in Nepal in 2013, Daily Mail reported. The actor was also named as United Nations Messenger of Peace, under which he famously gave a powerful speech in September 2014 at the UN summit.
Despite his best efforts, DiCaprio often comes under fire over his environment-unfriendly lifestyle, owing to carbon emissions from his private jets and yachts. He is also accused by environmentalist several times for racking up a massive carbon footprint.