If Hashem gave him the z’chus to be such a big supporter of Torah we should give him kavod (see Igeres haRamban for similar loshon).
There are many rich people out there who give nothing to our worthy causes. Some of these people give nothing at all. Some give to help save the whales. Some give to political parties. These people have so much money and are not zoche to use it to acquire Olam Habbah. But the people you are referring to were zoche. That says a lot. Don’t underestimate that.