118 | INFLUENCE SUMMER/FALL 2016 “I have ottomans everywhere in my homes,” he says. “You look in every corner of the house and you’ll find little pockets of comfort.” At the outset of his seventh decade, John has accomplished more — personally, professionally, politically, philanthropically — in his 60 years than most men could if given 600 years. He’s spending his remaining time on earth and the money he’s earned, being surrounded by people he loves, and cloistered in down and ottomans. But in his last act, he’s also borderline obsessed with that transition from “success to significance.” “FOOD. WATER. SHELTER. MEDICINE. THOSE ARE THE PILLARS OF BEING ABLE TO LIVE A LIFE WITH basic human dignity. THAT’S WHERE I TRY AND MAKE my marks.” — JOHN MORGAN John is a very religious guy, and a very spiritual one, even if he isn’t always what one would call “devout.” His faith is central to how he views his golden years. “I figure the likelihood there’s a God is better than that there isn’t,” he philosophizes. “And I’m gonna live my life like there is a God and a pearly gates and I’m gonna have to sit in judgement one day.” On those lines, the “significance” John Morgan seeks is through acts of good will and charity, not business. Even though he doesn’t believe it’s going to count with the Guy Upstairs, John talks about his law business and his charitable acts of significance in much the same terms. “Dignity” is what he offers by representing clients on contingency, who otherwise couldn’t afford a lawyer and therefore access to the civil justice system. And “dignity,” is his primary parameter for charitable investment. “Food. Water. Shelter. Medicine. Those are the pillars of being able to live a life with basic human dignity,” he declares. “That’s where I try and make my marks.” He considers the over $7 million he’s put into the medical marijuana campaign an act of compassion and dignity. Ditto for the millions he’s invested in the Orlando food bank bearing his and his wife’s name, or leading an effort to open a shelter for battered women, children — and their dogs. “When these women try and leave abusive relationships, one of the things that always happens is the abuser uses the dog to keep them from leaving. ‘I’ll kill the dog if you don’t come home.’” Every night, because it calms him before bed, and to keep racking up those points prior to meeting St. Peter, John prays. And he’s been doing it more lately. After taking his daughter, Kate, to see Jimmy Carter teach Sunday school, she gave him some advice. “She goes, ‘you need to start thinking more about what’s right than what’s wrong, and spend more time with prayers of gratitude.’ And I’ve done that. And it’s been very helpful.” And like the Irish Catholic boy he is at heart, John Morgan has a strong sense of fatalism, that what he has was given to him, not earned. “I’m blessed and I’m lucky. Certain things worked out the right way and I won the genetic lottery being born the way I was,” he concludes. “People are born either lions or sloths. I was born a lion. I just had to fucking work. You don’t pat a lion on the back and say, ‘hey, you’re a badass lion.’”
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