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On February 15, 2024, Forbes published a list of America’s 25 most generous billionaires. These philanthropists, including well-known names like Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and MacKenzie Scott, collectively donated billions of dollars in 2023, with a total lifetime giving reaching nearly $211 billion.
Despite the significant increase in charitable contributions, their fortunes also experienced a remarkable surge, rising by 44% to an estimated $1.35 trillion, primarily due to the surge in U.S. stocks.
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Warren Buffett retained his top position as the most generous giver for the fourth consecutive year, with a lifetime giving of $56.7 billion.
Other notable philanthropists on the list include Bill and Melinda Gates, George Soros, Michael Bloomberg, and MacKenzie Scott. The list also welcomed four newcomers: Barbara Picower, Bernie and Billi Marcus, Amos and Barbara Hostetter, and Eric and Wendy Schmidt.
These philanthropists support a wide range of causes, from health and poverty alleviation to environmental sustainability and legal services for low-income Americans. Notably, some directed their contributions towards groups strengthening democracy in anticipation of the U.S. presidential election later that year.
In total, the lifetime giving of these individuals rose by 7% compared to the previous year, amounting to nearly $25 billion in new giving in 2023 alone.
The Giving Pledge, a commitment by billionaires to donate a significant portion of their wealth during their lifetime or at death, was endorsed by 13 of the 25 individuals on this list. However, only George Soros has surpassed the halfway mark in fulfilling this pledge.
For a detailed breakdown of the rankings, including individual contributions, giving focus, net worth, and the percentage of giving relative to net worth, you can refer to the full Forbes article.
