In a landmark move underscoring his decades-long commitment to philanthropy, billionaire investor Warren buffett has donated an estimated $6 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway shares to five different charitable foundations. This massive contribution, announced on Saturday, June 28, 2025, represents his largest annual gift in nearly two decades and significantly advances his pledge to give away the vast majority of his immense fortune. The shares were scheduled for delivery shortly after the announcement, marking another major step in the distribution of his wealth.
This latest donation highlights the extraordinary scale of Buffett’s philanthropic vision. The sum involved is staggering, even for one of the world’s wealthiest individuals. By consistently transferring billions in stock, Buffett is actively reshaping his legacy, choosing to impact global issues through charitable foundations rather than accumulating personal wealth beyond a certain point. This approach sets him apart in the world of billionaires.
Buffett’s Record Donation: Breaking Down the Numbers
The recent $6 billion contribution was delivered primarily in the form of approximately 12.36 million class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett, known for his strategic financial maneuvers, converts Class A shares into the more easily divisible Class B shares specifically for these large-scale charitable distributions.
At the time of the donation, a single Berkshire Class A share was valued at nearly $731,000, while a Class B share was worth around $485.68. This explains the sheer number of Class B shares required to reach the $6 billion mark. Following this gift, Buffett’s personal stake in Berkshire Hathaway stands at 198,117 Class A shares and just 1,144 Class B shares. He has famously not bought or sold any Berkshire Class A or Class B shares in 19 years, focusing instead on giving them away.
Who Received the Billions?
The significant donation was directed towards five foundations with deep connections to Buffett’s life and philanthropic goals. The largest portion, consisting of about 9.43 million Class B shares, went to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust. Buffett has a long-standing partnership with this foundation, which focuses on crucial areas like global health, poverty reduction, education, and economic mobility worldwide.
The remaining 2.92 million shares were distributed among four foundations closely tied to his family:
The Sherwood Foundation: Linked to his daughter, Susan Buffett.
The Howard G. Buffett Foundation: Founded by his son, Howard G. Buffett.
The NoVo Foundation: Co-founded by his son, Peter Buffett, and his wife, Jennifer Buffett.
The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation: Named after his late first wife, focusing significantly on reproductive health and family planning.
These foundations represent the core recipients of Buffett’s annual giving, a tradition he established nearly two decades ago.
The Giving Pledge and a Lifetime of Philanthropy
Warren Buffett’s commitment to giving away his fortune is not a recent development. His large-scale donations to the Gates Foundation and his family’s charities began in 2006. In 2010, alongside Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, he co-founded The Giving Pledge, an initiative encouraging other wealthy individuals and families to commit the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes.
Buffett has stated clearly that his plan is to donate over 99% of his wealth to philanthropy. He estimates that approximately 99.5% of his estate is destined for charitable usage upon his death, as stipulated in his will. Reflecting on his journey, Buffett noted that when he first formalized his annual grant schedule in 2006, he owned Berkshire A shares worth about $43 billion, representing over 98% of his net worth at that time.
The cumulative value of the Berkshire Class B shares received by the five foundations at the time of donation has now reached approximately $60 billion. This cumulative amount is substantially more than his entire net worth was in 2006, underscoring the exponential growth of Berkshire’s value over the years, even as he has been actively giving shares away.
The Paradox of Giving: Why Buffett Isn’t the Richest
Despite giving away tens of billions of dollars, Warren Buffett consistently ranks among the top wealthiest people globally. However, his deliberate act of philanthropy is the single biggest reason he is not the absolute richest person in the world.
Had Buffett retained all the Berkshire A shares he owned in 2006, their value would have soared dramatically. Those 474,998 Class A shares, worth about $43 billion then, would be worth around $292 billion today based on current valuations. Adding his Class B shares and other holdings, his theoretical net worth would be close to $293 billion. This sum would place him far ahead of current wealth leaders like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Bernard Arnault, potentially making him the wealthiest person ever recorded.
This stark comparison highlights Buffett’s philosophical stance: “Society has a use for my money. I don’t.” His famously frugal lifestyle—living in the same Omaha, Nebraska home he bought in 1958, enjoying simple meals—reinforces that his vast wealth is not for personal extravagance but a resource to be deployed for societal benefit through strategic charitable giving.
Planning for the Future: Succession in Philanthropy
At 94 years old, Warren Buffett is also actively planning the future of his giving, including the distribution of the vast majority of his remaining fortune after his death. He recently announced plans to step down as Berkshire Hathaway CEO by the end of 2025, with Greg Abel slated to take over leadership of the company’s operations.
While he intends to continue making annual donations to the five foundations during his lifetime, the plan for the bulk of his wealth upon his death involves a shift in responsibility. Instead of the majority going directly to the Gates Foundation as initially understood, his will dictates that about 99.5% of his estate will pass to a charitable trust overseen by his three children: Susie, Howard, and Peter.
His children currently hold full responsibility for gradually distributing all of his Berkshire holdings intended for charity. Buffett acknowledged the immense challenge of disbursing such a massive fortune (estimated around $145 billion in remaining A shares alone) within his children’s lifetimes. To address this, he has identified three potential successor trustees, younger than his children and known to them, who are on a “wait list” in case they are needed to help manage the distribution process. This highlights the long-term, multi-generational scope of his philanthropic endeavor.
This recent $6 billion gift is more than just a number; it’s a powerful statement about the ongoing execution of a remarkable philanthropic vision that aims to deploy nearly an entire fortune for the betterment of society, a plan that will continue to unfold for decades to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
How large was Warren Buffett’s recent charity donation?
Warren Buffett’s latest contribution was an estimated $6 billion. This donation was made in the form of approximately 12.36 million Class B shares of his company, Berkshire Hathaway. It is his largest annual donation in nearly 20 years and continues his practice of giving away billions in stock annually.
Which foundations received Warren Buffett’s latest $6 billion donation?
The $6 billion donation was distributed among five charitable foundations. The largest portion went to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, which supports global health and development initiatives. The remaining funds were given to four foundations tied to his family: the Sherwood Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the NoVo Foundation, and the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation.
Why does Warren Buffett give away so much of his wealth?
Warren Buffett is a co-founder of The Giving Pledge and has publicly committed to donating over 99% of his wealth to philanthropy. His philosophy is that society has needs that his money can address, which he does not require for personal consumption. He believes his fortune can do more good by being distributed to charitable causes than by simply accumulating. This commitment means he forgoes being the world’s wealthiest person, instead choosing to fund initiatives that address significant global challenges through his foundations and the Gates Foundation.
Conclusion
Warren Buffett’s record $6 billion donation in Berkshire Hathaway shares stands as a testament to his unwavering commitment to philanthropy. As he nears the end of his tenure leading Berkshire Hathaway, this gift reinforces that his focus on strategic charitable giving remains paramount. By directing billions to the Gates Foundation and his family’s foundations, he continues to execute a decades-long plan to return the vast majority of his fortune to society. This process, which has already seen tens of billions distributed and is structured to continue for years to come under the stewardship of his children and potentially future trustees, underscores a unique approach to wealth management and a profound belief in the power of organized giving to address the world’s most pressing challenges. His actions serve as a powerful example within the global community of billionaires.
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