In 2024, Mackenzie Scott donated close to 5% of her net worth. Why isn’t she on here?
Edit: also, I am getting tired of all the billionaires datasets presented here. These people are bugs of our systems, not desirable features. We should stop idolizing them.
cofcof420 on
I don’t trust this data as Warren Buffett has donated huge portions of his wealth to charity.
Danph85 on
Trump is actually a legit billionaire now, isn’t he? I wonder where he falls on this list?
fatninja7 on
How did you choose who’s on the list? Is it the billionaires with most wealth? something else?
human-0 on
I feel like basic living needs should be subtracted first and then % of wealth should be calculated. “Average Americans” spend far greater % of their income on essentials and so have less to even consider for charitable donations.
Only_One_Kenobi on
“I will donate 99% of my fortune”
Actually donates less than 1%
Billionaire math checks out once again
submofo2 on
Lets see Larry Ellisons donation to Israel and its military as a comparison
Bowshewicz on
How is the average American’s donation calculated? Is it a mean, and big donators are dominating it?
I know people who make charitable donations, and probably most people click that round up button at the self-checkout at least occasionally, but I’d be willing to bet the median American donation is very close to zero.
For what it’s worth, the median American household has a net worth of around $200k, so 0.2% would be $400 — probably more than you’re incidentally giving to Ronald McDonald house even if you eat at McDonald’s every single day.
iseon on
Graph-makers made the error of trying to anthropomorphize the lawnmower. Comparison of the average person with Ellison is obviously an apples to oranges comparison.
intronert on
The wealthy are making PHENOMENAL returns on those donations.
BernieTheDachshund on
Does this count Musk giving a quarter billion to the Trump campaign as ‘donated’ even though it’s not a charity?
No_School_6290 on
How about taxes paid as a percentage of wealth?
kettal on
if somebody in debt donate $1 they’d be over 100%
cheweychewchew on
That some billionaires donate a marginally higher percentage of their income than the average American is not really news worthy. It’s to be expected.
That some billionaires donate significantly less that the average American should be in the news regularly. Folks like Musk, Bezos, and Ellison are absolute garbage human beings.
gentex on
ETA – looked closer at the bottom label and see this for 2024. Have removed earlier reference to errors in the methodology. These numbers may be correct. My bad for missing the label.
———————
Not sure about your sources or methodology, but the Warren Buffett number looks way wrong. In 2025 he donated around $6billion to various charities. According to Forbes, his net worth is estimated at around $140billion. That math works out to a little over 4%, not less than 1% as your graphic indicates.
2025 was a relatively large year for him, but since he initiated his charity efforts, he’s donated around $60 billion.
Now do it as a % of disposable income. Thats the tragedy here.
SenseEuphoric5802 on
Jeff Bezos and Larry Ellison at the bottom was expected.
definitelynotapastor on
Crazy. I have 5 kids and three jobs and give more than 10%.
rcktlwyr on
How much of each billionaire’s donations are donations to charities or foundations which they control? And if so, is that real philanthropy, in the sense that the money has actually made its way to the achievement of philanthropic endeavors?
19 Comments
In 2024, Mackenzie Scott donated close to 5% of her net worth. Why isn’t she on here?
Edit: also, I am getting tired of all the billionaires datasets presented here. These people are bugs of our systems, not desirable features. We should stop idolizing them.
I don’t trust this data as Warren Buffett has donated huge portions of his wealth to charity.
Trump is actually a legit billionaire now, isn’t he? I wonder where he falls on this list?
How did you choose who’s on the list? Is it the billionaires with most wealth? something else?
I feel like basic living needs should be subtracted first and then % of wealth should be calculated. “Average Americans” spend far greater % of their income on essentials and so have less to even consider for charitable donations.
“I will donate 99% of my fortune”
Actually donates less than 1%
Billionaire math checks out once again
Lets see Larry Ellisons donation to Israel and its military as a comparison
How is the average American’s donation calculated? Is it a mean, and big donators are dominating it?
I know people who make charitable donations, and probably most people click that round up button at the self-checkout at least occasionally, but I’d be willing to bet the median American donation is very close to zero.
For what it’s worth, the median American household has a net worth of around $200k, so 0.2% would be $400 — probably more than you’re incidentally giving to Ronald McDonald house even if you eat at McDonald’s every single day.
Graph-makers made the error of trying to anthropomorphize the lawnmower. Comparison of the average person with Ellison is obviously an apples to oranges comparison.
The wealthy are making PHENOMENAL returns on those donations.
Does this count Musk giving a quarter billion to the Trump campaign as ‘donated’ even though it’s not a charity?
How about taxes paid as a percentage of wealth?
if somebody in debt donate $1 they’d be over 100%
That some billionaires donate a marginally higher percentage of their income than the average American is not really news worthy. It’s to be expected.
That some billionaires donate significantly less that the average American should be in the news regularly. Folks like Musk, Bezos, and Ellison are absolute garbage human beings.
ETA – looked closer at the bottom label and see this for 2024. Have removed earlier reference to errors in the methodology. These numbers may be correct. My bad for missing the label.
———————
Not sure about your sources or methodology, but the Warren Buffett number looks way wrong. In 2025 he donated around $6billion to various charities. According to Forbes, his net worth is estimated at around $140billion. That math works out to a little over 4%, not less than 1% as your graphic indicates.
2025 was a relatively large year for him, but since he initiated his charity efforts, he’s donated around $60 billion.
Some details here: https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/news/jun2725.pdf
Now do it as a % of disposable income. Thats the tragedy here.
Jeff Bezos and Larry Ellison at the bottom was expected.
Crazy. I have 5 kids and three jobs and give more than 10%.
How much of each billionaire’s donations are donations to charities or foundations which they control? And if so, is that real philanthropy, in the sense that the money has actually made its way to the achievement of philanthropic endeavors?