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Warren Buffett's Historic $6 Billion Philanthropic Gift and Its Impact on Charity

Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has made his largest annual charitable contribution to date, donating $6 billion in Berkshire Class B stock on Friday. This substantial gift brings his total philanthropic contributions over the past two decades to more than $60 billion.



"Portrait of Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, who has made his largest annual donation of $6 billion to charities."
"Portrait of Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, who has made his largest annual donation of $6 billion to charities."

The donation was distributed among five organizations:


  • Gates Foundation: Received the largest portion with 9.43 million shares.


  • Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation: Named after his first wife, this foundation, which supports reproductive health, received 943,384 shares.


  • Howard G. Buffett Foundation: Focusing on global hunger, human trafficking, and conflict mitigation, it received 660,366 shares.


  • Sherwood Foundation: This charity, which supports Nebraska nonprofits and early childhood education, received 660,366 shares.


  • NoVo Foundation: Dedicated to empowering marginalized girls, women, and indigenous communities, it received 660,366 shares.


Even after this significant donation, which surpasses his previous record of $5.3 billion last June and follows an additional $1.14 billion given to family charities last November, Buffett, at 94 years old, still retains a 13.8% ownership in Berkshire Hathaway. Before this donation, Forbes estimated his net worth at $152 billion, ranking him as the world's fifth-richest person, a position expected to drop to sixth after this contribution.


Warren Buffett has systematically been giving away his wealth since 2006 and has committed to not selling any of his Berkshire shares. Last year, he updated his will to ensure that 99.5% of his remaining fortune will be allocated to a charitable trust overseen by his children Susie, Howard, and Peter Buffett who will have approximately a decade to distribute the funds after his death. He has also stated that donations to the Gates Foundation will conclude upon his passing.


Berkshire Hathaway, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is a massive $1.05 trillion conglomerate with diverse holdings, including Geico car insurance, BNSF railroad, and significant stakes in companies like Apple and American Express.




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