Here are the billionaires who give away the most money, according to Forbes (2024)

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FILE-In this photo illustration, $100 dollar bills are on display. (Photo Illustration by Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Forbes has released its list of billionaires who have donated the most money.

Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett has a lifetime giving of $56.7 billion. The Berkshire Hathaway CEO giving focuses on health and poverty alleviation. The 93-year-old has a net worth of $131 billion.

Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates

Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates have a lifetime giving of $42.5 billion, with a giving focus on health and poverty alleviation. They continue to co-chair the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation despite their 2021 divorce, Forbes noted. Bill has a net worth of 125 billion, and Melinda’s net worth is $10.6 billion.

George Soros

Hedge fund founder George Soros, 93, has a lifetime giving amount of $21 billion with his donations focusing on democracy and human rights. Soros has a net worth of $6.7 billion.

Michael Bloomberg

The 82-year-old founder of financial data and media company Bloomberg LP doled out $3 billion in 2023. Bloomberg has a lifetime giving amount of $17.4 billion to causes focusing on climate change, health and education. He has a net worth of $96.3 billion.

MacKenzie Scott

MacKenzie Scott donated $2.15 billion in 2023 to a total of 360 groups in 35 U.S. states plus in Brazil, India, according to Forbes. Scott has a lifetime giving amount of $16.58 billion with a giving focus on economic, racial and gender equality. The philanthropist has a net worth of $35.3 billion.

Jim and Marilyn Simons

In 2023, Jim and Marilyn Simons pledged $500 million over seven years to the endowment of the State University of New York at Stony Brook in Long Island, Forbes noted. The couple has a lifetime giving of $6.03 billion, with their donations going to basic science and math. They have a net worth of $30.7 billion.

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan

Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have a lifetime giving amount of $4.5 billion, with their giving focusing on science and education. The couple’s net worth is $165 billion.

Steve and Connie Ballmer

Last year, Steve and Connie Ballmer announced a $175 million gift over seven years to Strive Together, an Ohio-based group that works in 29 states to support children in poverty with coaching and resources, according to Forbes.

The former Microsoft CEO and his wife have a lifetime giving of $3.75 billion focusing on economic mobility. The couple's net worth is $123 billion.

Phil and Penny Knight

Phil and Penny Knight, in 2023, announced a $400 million pledge over five to ten years to a fund that will support Black residents of Portland, Oregon; funds will go to education services, the arts and other programs for residents of a Portland neighborhood.

The Nike founder and his wife have a lifetime giving of $3.6 billion focusing on education. Phil and Penny have a net worth of $42.5 billion.

Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos and his fiance, Lauren Sánchez, announced the creation of a $100 million Maui Fund in 2023 after the fire destroyed parts of the Hawaiian island.

The Amazon founder has a lifetime giving of $3.33 billion with a giving focus on the environment and education. Bezos has a net worth of $196 billion.

Four new billionaires were also added to the 2024 list, including Barbara Picower, who is 12th with a lifetime giving of $3.15 billion, Bernie and Billi Marcus, rank 23rd with a lifetime giving of $1.75 billion, Amos and Barbara Hostetter, rank 24th with a lifetime giving of $1.61 billion and Eric Wendy Schmidt rank 25th with a lifetime giving of $1.44 billion.

To see the full list of top philanthropists, visit Forbes’ website.

This story was reported from Washington, D.C.

FAQs

Here are the billionaires who give away the most money, according to Forbes? ›

Still, only eleven of America's 400 richest people have given away more than 20% of their stash, per Forbes' estimates, earning a rare 5: John Arnold, Edythe Broad, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, Amos Hostetter Jr., Pierre Omidyar, MacKenzie Scott, Lynn Schusterman, Jeff Skoll and George Soros.

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How many billionaires are there in the US according to Forbes? ›

Much of the gains come from the top 20, who added a combined $700 billion in wealth since 2023, and from the U.S., which now boasts a record 813 billionaires worth a combined $5.7 trillion.

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Who donates the most money rich or poor? ›

People with means, as you might expect, are substantial givers. Middle-class Americans donate a little less. But the lower-income population surprises by giving more than the middle—and in some measures even more than the top.

Which person has donated the most money? ›

According to the EdelGive Foundation and Hurun Report 2021, the founder of Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, has been recognized as the most charitable person of the past century, having donated a staggering Rs 829,734 crore.

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Which country has the most billionaires Forbes? ›

But the United States has the most billionaires overall, with a record 813, the richest being Elon Musk (worth an estimated $195 billion). China, with 473 billionaires (including Hong Kong), has the second-most billionaires, followed by India, with a record 200.

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Who is the most generous person in the world? ›

Despite having died in 1904, Jamsetji Tata still retains the title of the world's most generous philanthropist. A pioneering Indian industrialist, Jamsetji founded the Tata Group and remained committed to making a positive societal impact with his company and his wealth throughout his life.

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What billionaire is giving away money? ›

Here's how it works. MacKenzie Scott, philanthropist, billionaire and ex-wife of Amazon's Jeff Bezos, just donated $640 million to 361 nonprofit groups out of a pool of over 6,000 applicants.

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Who was the billionaire who gave everything away? ›

After piling up billions in business, he pledged to donate almost all of his money to causes before he died. He succeeded, and then lived a more modest life. Charles F.

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What religion donates the most money? ›

Mormons are the most generous Americans, both by participation level and by size of gifts. Evangelical Christians are next.

Does Elon Musk give to charity? ›

Elon Musk's Charitable Foundation Is the 28th Richest in the World, Is 'Haphazard and Largely Self-Serving' Until recently, Elon Musk was listed as the wealthiest person in the world. As many wealthy folks do, Musk has set up a tax shelter “foundation” to oversee the Tesla and SpaceX CEO's charitable giving.

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Which country is most generous? ›

Around the world, 4.2 billion people helped someone they didn't know, volunteered time or donated money to a good cause according to the Charities Aid Foundation's World Giving Index 2023. For the sixth year in a row, the world's most generous country is Indonesia.

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How much of the US money is owned by billionaires? ›

The nation's roughly 800 billionaires now hold 3.8% of U.S. wealth, according to Americans for Tax Fairness, while the bottom half of American families control only 2.5%.

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How many billionaires have over $100 billion? ›

There are only 15 people whose wealth is greater than $100 billion (and they'd be richer if they weren't giving it away) LVMH's Bernard Arnault remains in the $100 billion club despite a stock price bloodbath swiping more than $10 billion from his net worth overnight.

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How many American billionaires exist? ›

As of 2024, there are 756 billionaires living in 43 of the 50 US states or Washington, D.C. The only states with no billionaire residents are Alaska, Delaware, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia.

Who is the youngest billionaire? ›

Selena Gomez has joined the youngest billionaires club with an estimated net worth of USD 1.3 billion, largely due to her beauty brand Rare Beauty, launched in 2019. Here's a list of her investments that enabled her to achieve this financial feat.