Tips for Jesus: World's most generous diners kick start 2015 with $2,000 tip
Anonymous diners also left a $11,000 tip two days after Christmas
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A group of anonymous diners who regularly leave restaurant staff stunned by their generous tips kicked off 2015 by handing one waiter $2,000 (£1,300).
Photos of credit card receipts with “Tips for Jesus” scribbled alongside generous gratuities are regularly uploaded onto a dedicated Instagram account.
The Tips for Jesus group, which reportedly has around ten members, has left huge windfalls across states in the US and Mexico.
The most recent was left to waiters and waitresses at the Tacolicious Valencia Street diner in San Francisco on 2 January.
A staff member there told SF Gate the customer in question was a regular: “He comes in here all the time and he’s amazing. Amazing to the staff.”
Another $11,000 (£7,200) 'tip for Jesus' was handed to restaurant employees in Arizona two days after Christmas.
The Tips for Jesus account, which has 86,000 followers, describes itself as “doing the Lord’s work, one tip at a time”.
Despite the religious connotations, the leader of the group told San Franciso Magazine in February 2014 that the movement he started in September 2013 was originally intended to be agnostic.
He claimed he had been "fortunate in life" and said it was simply about "making the pie bigger".
“It’s just about helping people out,” he told the magazine. “It’s not hard to give back. When justified by great service, magnanimous gratuities are achievable by everyone — no excuses.”
There has been fervent speculation over the identity of the leader who has also posted pictured of himself with ecstatic restaurant staff.
However, his name has never been revealed by the press.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments