Warren Buffett Donates $6 Billion to Gates Foundation and Family Charities

Warren Buffett has donated $6 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKa) stock to charitable foundations, marking his largest annual donation since he began philanthropic giving in 2006. The legendary investor gifted approximately 12.36 million Berkshire Class B shares, raising his total lifetime donations to over $60 billion.

The Gates Foundation received the largest portion with 9.43 million shares, while the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation was granted 943,384 shares. Additionally, 660,366 shares each went to foundations run by his three children: the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Sherwood Foundation, and the NoVo Foundation.

Despite the latest donation, Buffett still holds 13.8% of Berkshire Hathaway shares. Prior to the donation, his net worth stood at $152 billion, placing him fifth on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest individuals. After the donation, he is expected to rank sixth.

Buffett, 94, has led Omaha-based Berkshire Hathaway since 1965. The $1.05 trillion conglomerate owns nearly 200 businesses, including Geico and BNSF Railway, and holds major stakes in companies like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and American Express (NYSE: AXP).

In 2023, Buffett revised his will to allocate 99.5% of his remaining wealth to a charitable trust overseen by his children—Susie (71), Howard (70), and Peter (67)—who must unanimously decide how to distribute the funds within a decade of his passing.

The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation focuses on reproductive health, while the Sherwood Foundation supports Nebraska-based nonprofits. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation addresses hunger, human trafficking, and conflict mitigation. The NoVo Foundation works with marginalized women and indigenous communities.

Buffett reaffirmed he has no plans to sell any Berkshire shares and noted that contributions to the Gates Foundation will cease upon his death.