Every year philanthropists give away billions of dollars for good causes, the welfare of communities, people, and innovations. With the growing economy, the U.S. has one of the highest numbers of philanthropists donating a big part of their earnings yearly. Philanthropy is an important part of society as it helps in the upliftment of weaker sections, combat environmental challenges, provide better health facilities, etc.
Philanthropy has the power to create lasting change. When an organization gets support, it triggers a ‘ripple effect’ that touches many lives, often for generations. Philanthropy is a key part of a strong society. When people come together to help others, whether by donating money or time, it reminds us of our shared humanity. This, in turn, helps communities grow stronger.
Top 10 American Philanthropists of 2024
The “Top 10 American Philanthropists of 2024” highlights individuals who have made a significant impact through their charitable giving and efforts to improve society. These philanthropists come from diverse backgrounds, yet they share a commitment to tackling some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Whether supporting education, healthcare, climate change, or social justice, their contributions inspire others to give back and create positive change in communities both at home and abroad.
1. Warren Buffet
Warren Buffet, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, aged 93, has promised in his joining letter to the Giving Pledge that he would give away 99% of his wealth saying “during my lifetime or death.” He was the one to build a “Giving Pledge” with Bill and Melinda Gates to encourage charity and fund-giving among billionaires in 2010.
His net worth is $131 billion and he has donated around $62 billion by 2024. Buffet majorly focused his donations towards upliftment of poor people and medical facilities.
2. Bill Gates & Melinda Gates
Although Bill & Melinda have been divorced since 2021, they continue to co-chair the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is the reason behind counting them together for the donations and the philanthropy work. Their foundation focuses on providing necessary vaccinations to the children of underdeveloped or developing nations. Its goal is to distribute $9 annually by 2026.
Bill Gates & Melinda Gates have together donated $46.6 billion by 2024. While Bill Gates has a net worth of $126 billion, Melinda’s net worth stands at $10.6 billion after the couple’s divorce.
3. George Soros
Over the past 30 years, hedge fund founder George Soros, now 93, donated $32 billion to the Open Society Foundations, which has spent $21 billion by the end of 2022. The foundation supports groups that promote democracy, transparency, and free speech, working in about 120 countries. It includes several funding entities, with the U.S. branch, the Open Society Institute, holding $4.5 billion in assets.
In December 2022, Soros’ 38-year-old son, Alex, was quietly elected chair of the foundation, with the news becoming public in June 2023.
4. Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg is a founder of media company Bloomberg, aged 82, and has a net worth of $96.3 billion. He has donated a total of $20.4 billion by 2024 for different causes like health, climate change, and education.
After the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, Bloomberg donated $44 million to Magen David Adom, Israel’s Red Cross. Last year, Mike Bloomberg announced that he would leave his stake in Bloomberg LP to Bloomberg Philanthropies upon his death, or sooner if possible.
5. Mackenzie Scott
In 2019, Mackenzie Scott divorced with Jeff Bezos receiving 4% stakes of the Amazon. She has a net worth of $35.3 billion and has donated 32% worth of his net worth by 2024. She doesn’t have any charitable foundation but gives out several grants on her Yield Giving website.
In 2023, Scott donated $2.15 billion to 360 organizations across 35 U.S. states, as well as in Brazil, India, and other countries. Her donations included support for Camfed, a pan-African organization focused on girls’ education and women’s leadership.
6. Mark Zuckerberg & Priscilla Chan
The CEO and co-founder of Meta Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have been donating billions to advance science and education. In 2023, they expanded their science philanthropy by announcing the creation of two new “biohubs.”
Universities in Chicago and New York are teaming up to improve our understanding of how human tissues work and develop immune cells that can detect and treat diseases early. This collaboration aims to advance medical research and help improve healthcare.
7. Phil & Penny Knight
The Nike founder and his wife Penny have a total net worth of $42.5 billion and have donated around $3.7 billion for the education and upliftment of Portland, Oregon Black residents. Last year, the Knights made another contribution toward their 2021 pledge of $500 million to fund the University of Oregon’s Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, which is named in their honor. Phil Knight, a proud U of Oregon alum, was a member of the school’s track team during his college years. Their continued support is driving innovation and scientific progress at the university.
8. Jeff Bezos
In August, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, launched the $100 million Maui Fund to help after the devastating fire on the Hawaiian island, where Bezos owns a home. So far, about 15% of the fund has been given to a few Maui nonprofits. Additionally, the Bezos Earth Fund, a $10 billion commitment to fight climate change, donated $210 million in grants in 2023.
9. Sergey Brin
Brin, who co-founded Google with Larry Page in 1998, has donated over $1.25 billion to Parkinson’s disease research, including more than $150 million in 2023. Over a decade ago, he revealed that he has a genetic mutation that increases his risk for the disease and has since supported a major initiative to fund collaborative research on Parkinson’s.
10. Ruth Gottesman
At 93 years old, former professor Gottesman, who taught at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, donated $1 billion to the school earlier this year to cover tuition for future students.
