10
May 16
Warren Buffett: The Giving Pledge
Warren Buffett: The Giving Pledge:
By LUCAS JACKSON
Throughout history, many of the richest of the rich have felt a responsibility to help the less fortunate.
Billionaire investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett has taken the call to action a step further by asking billionaires to follow his lead.
By signing The Giving Pledge, created by Buffett, billionaires make a public promise to dedicate most of their wealth to philanthropy.
To date, there have been more than 125 pledgers from around the world, many of them high-profile philanthropists and self-made titans.
Here is are some of the signers:
Pledger: Bill Gates, co-founder, Microsoft
Estimated net worth: Around $81 billion
Pledged to give away: “We have committed the vast majority of our assets to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” wrote the Gateses in their pledge letter.
Charities: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supports ending extreme poverty and poor health in developing countries, and is working to help America’s education system.
Pledger: Larry Ellison, co-founder, Oracle
Estimated net worth: Around $51 billion
Pledged to give away: “I put virtually all of my assets into a trust with the intent of giving away at least 95 percent of my wealth to charitable causes,” wrote Ellison in his pledge letter.
Charities: The Ellison Medical Foundation’s mission is to research and prevent age-related diseases and disabilities.
Pledge: Michael Bloomberg, founder, Bloomberg LP
Estimated net worth: Around $35 billion
Pledged to give away: “… I am enthusiastically taking The Giving Pledge, and nearly all of my net worth will be given away in the years ahead or left to my foundation.”
Charities: Bloomberg Philanthropies donates to a variety of causes, including education, arts, public health, environment and government innovation to improve city life.
Pledger: Mark Zuckerberg, CEO, Facebook
Estimated net worth: Around $35 billion
Pledged to give away: Most of his wealth
Charities: In 2013, Zuckerberg donated Facebook shares worth just under $1 billion to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
