In a philanthropic gesture of historic scale, Warren Buffett, the legendary 94-year-old investor and longtime chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has donated approximately $6 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares to five foundations. The bulk of the gift—roughly 9.43 million shares—went to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, while the remainder was allocated among four Buffett-affiliated family foundations: the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, the Sherwood Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and the NoVo Foundation.
This single donation is Buffett’s most substantial annual contribution since he began his prolific giving campaign in 2006. With this latest gift, he has now donated over $60 billion in total Berkshire shares to these five charities. The record-breaking $6 billion donation also marks the highest annual philanthropic contribution by any billionaire in nearly two decades.
Including this transfer of approximately 12.36 million Class B shares, Buffett’s cumulative giving reaches new heights. Around 9.43 million shares were directed to the Gates Foundation, while the remaining shares—about 660,366 each—went to the three children-led foundations, and 943,384 shares went to the Susan Foundation.
Despite this enormous donation, Buffett still holds an impressive stake in Berkshire Hathaway—owning 13.8% of the company after the transfer. Prior to the gift, his net worth was estimated at around $152 billion, making him the fifth-richest person globally. The reduction in assets is likely to push him to sixth place on the richest-person rankings.
Buffett accomplished the gift by converting a portion of his Class A shares—8,239 shares—into approximately 13.4 million Class B shares, enabling the contribution. He emphasized that neither this substantial donation nor his previous ones were driven by a sudden windfall, but rather by his long-term investment success, America’s economic environment, astute decision-making, and the power of compounding.
Buffett first launched this giving strategy in 2006, pledging to distribute 5% of his Berkshire stock to the same five foundations each year. In the two decades since, he has continually upheld this pledge, without selling any Berkshire shares outside of the annual contribution—his stake in the company has instead fallen due to the donations.
In his lifetime commitment, Buffett also established that 99.5% of his estate will be allocated to charity. Upon his death, the remaining assets—held in a trust overseen by his three children—are expected to be disbursed within a decade to further philanthropic causes.
The family-run foundations address a spectrum of initiatives: reproductive health through the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation; regional development and education via the Sherwood Foundation; global hunger, conflict and human trafficking through the Howard G. Buffett Foundation; and women’s empowerment and indigenous rights through the NoVo Foundation.
The Gates Foundation, however, remains the primary beneficiary, receiving the lion’s share of Buffett’s generosity. His donations to Bill and Melinda Gates total tens of billions in Berkshire shares, reinforcing their longstanding partnership in global health, education, and development efforts .
Buffett’s announcement comes just days after he revised his will to ensure maximum transparency and continuity in his philanthropic mission. He declared that after his passing, the Gates Foundation will no longer receive automatic gifts—funds will instead be funneled into a trust controlled by his children.
This donation marks another chapter in Buffett’s unprecedented philanthropic journey, reinforcing his belief that wealth should serve society. From his dining choices—still ordering McDonald’s meals and paying in exact change—to his monumental giving, he epitomizes the principle of living modestly while giving generously.
