Outlook Business Desk
As the United States observes National Philanthropy Day, the focus turns to the nation’s leading donors. The country’s wealthiest philanthropists have contributed $24bn so far, while their combined wealth has risen to $1.6trn, according to a Forbes report.
Many of America’s richest individuals, including Warren Buffett, George Soros, MacKenzie Scott, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, play a major role in shaping national giving trends. Some have donated large parts of their wealth, while others contribute smaller portions.
Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, tops the list with $62bn donated so far, equal to 30% of his total wealth. His long-term giving mainly moves through the Gates Foundation and his children’s foundations.
Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates have donated $47.7bn, which accounts for 26% of their total wealth. Their philanthropy focuses on global health and poverty, while Melinda also supports women’s empowerment and social equity through Pivotal Ventures.
George Soros, a well-known investor and founder of the Open Society Foundations, has contributed $23bn, which equals 76% of his current wealth. His philanthropy supports democracy, human rights and education.
MacKenzie Scott, an American author and philanthropist, has given $19.25bn, equal to 36% of her wealth. She supports education, housing and economic fairness through quick, no-restriction grants that help organisations address urgent needs without detailed conditions or paperwork.
Marilyn Simons and her family have donated $9.4bn or 23% of their total wealth. Their giving focuses on science, mathematics and climate research, supporting education and technology-led solutions designed to tackle long-term environmental and academic challenges in the US.
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have given $5.1bn, which is 2.1% of their total wealth. Their philanthropy focuses on science and education, including major research hubs like the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub that uses technology and AI to advance scientific discovery.
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, has donated $4.1bn, mainly towards climate action and family-focused programmes. Steve and Connie Ballmer, with Steve being the former Microsoft CEO, have given $4.99bn supporting mobility, climate initiatives, and large-scale community relief work.