 When John D. MacArthur died on January 6, 1978, he was worth over $1 billion and reportedly one of the three wealthiest men in the United States.He left ninety-two percent of his estate to the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.His will stipulated that the foundation's first board of directors include Catherine, J. Roderick MacArthur (a son from MacArthur's first marriage), three officers of Bankers Life and Casualty, and radio commentator Paul Harvey.