He was awarded the "Star of Pakistan" by the Pakistani president
He once competed with Obama for the Nobel Peace Prize, and after Obama won, he donated part of the prize money to him
Offer someone a cup of tea, and you are a stranger; offer a second, and you are a friend; offer a third, and you are family—I will protect you with my life.
— *Three Cups of Tea*
From mountaineer to philanthropist
To keep a promise, he turned stones into schools
Mortenson was originally a mountain climbing enthusiast. Born in 1957 in Minnesota, USA, he spent part of his early years in Tanzania with his parents, who were aiding Africa. In 1993, to honor his late sister, he decided to climb K2, the world’s second-highest peak. An accident occurred during the climb, and he was rescued by the Balti people of Pakistan, forming an unbreakable bond with the region.
When he saw local children writing in the sand with sticks, Mortenson promised to build them a school in gratitude for their lifesaving help. To fulfill this promise, he wrote over 500 letters seeking support from every American celebrity whose address he could find, and sold all his possessions. However, fundraising was difficult, and eventually he turned to the late semiconductor industry pioneer Jean Hoerni to secure the funds needed to build the school. With the help of locals, he purchased construction materials and laid the first stone, turning rocks into a school. In 1996, Hoerni invited Mortenson to co-found the Central Asia Institute, a charity focused on promoting education in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which Mortenson managed while unemployed.
From philanthropist to author: *Three Cups of Tea* sells 4 million copies and moves the world
In 2006, Mortenson compiled his experiences and observations over a decade into the book *Three Cups of Tea*, narrated in the third person, depicting his arduous fundraising efforts and interactions with local villagers over the years—inspirational and moving.
*Three Cups of Tea* sold 4 million copies worldwide, topping the *New York Times* bestseller list for three consecutive years, and was translated into 39 languages. U.S. soldiers deployed to Afghanistan were required to read the book before their missions. *Three Cups of Tea* moved the world and proved that one person can truly change the world. Later, he wrote *Three Cups of Tea 2: Stones into Schools*. Following the success of *Three Cups of Tea*, Mortenson received widespread attention and numerous awards in the U.S., and in March 2009, he was honored with Pakistan’s highest civilian award, the "Star of Pakistan," by the Pakistani president—a rare honor rarely given to foreigners.
In 2009, Mortenson competed with U.S. President Obama for the Nobel Peace Prize. After Obama won, he donated $100,000 from his prize money to Mortenson’s Central Asia Institute. According to the institute’s website, by 2011, they had built 172 schools in mountainous regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, benefiting 64,000 children.
From author to hypocrite
Misappropriating charity funds, using the nonprofit to raise money
On April 17, 2011, CBS’s flagship news program *60 Minutes* revealed a shocking investigation, alleging that *Three Cups of Tea* contained fabrications. Reporters visited the Pakistani village where Mortenson had stayed, and multiple locals who had interacted with him said his first visit and how he met them did not match the book’s accounts.
Additionally, Mortenson was accused of misusing Central Asia Institute funds, with chaotic accounting. The report stated that in 2009, to promote Mortenson’s books, the institute ran full-page ads in media outlets like the *New York Times* and chartered private jets to fly him to speaking events, costing up to $1.7 million. The institute bought hundreds or thousands of copies of *Three Cups of Tea* and *Stones into Schools* from commercial retailers, but the royalties went into Mortenson’s pocket—he donated nothing to the institute. Auditors found the institute’s financial records in disarray. Due to the chaos, four board members had resigned as early as 2002.
After the program aired, Mortenson downplayed everything, blaming cultural communication barriers.
From hypocrite to defendant
Disgraced, ordered to repay millions
After the *60 Minutes* report, Mortenson’s reputation was ruined. As he had built the Central Asia Institute under the banner of building schools for local children and raised substantial donations, many saw him as a fraud.
On May 5, 2011, after nearly a month of fallout, two Montana residents sued Mortenson and his charity, the Central Asia Institute, accusing them of fabricating stories to induce readers to donate and buy books.
On April 5, 2012, Montana’s attorney general announced that Mortenson had agreed to a settlement, promising to repay $1 million to the charity. But Mortenson’s once world-moving "Three Cups of Tea" philanthropic vision lived on. Though its creator had gone astray, his past contributions would be remembered forever.
Reported by Yuan Jin Hui, this newspaper