Warren Buffett Donates Record $6 Billion in Berkshire Shares — Biggest Gift of His Lifetime

Warren Buffett has made his largest annual charitable contribution to date, donating $6 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway shares. The 94-year-old investor and philanthropist distributed around 12.36 million Class B shares to five key foundations, continuing his long-standing commitment to giving away the majority of his fortune.

The biggest portion—approximately 9.43 million shares—went to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, while his late wife’s namesake, the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, received 943,384 shares. Additionally, three organizations led by his children each received 660,366 shares. These include the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Sherwood Foundation, and the NoVo Foundation.

This latest donation brings Buffett’s total charitable giving to more than $60 billion since he began formally distributing his wealth in 2006. Despite the large-scale gifts, Buffett still retains about 13.8% ownership in Berkshire Hathaway, the company he has led since 1965.

Before this round of giving, Buffett’s net worth stood at approximately $152 billion, making him the world’s fifth-richest individual. With this new donation, he now ranks sixth on the global wealth list. The $6 billion gift surpasses his previous largest annual donation of $5.3 billion made in June 2023. He also donated an additional $1.14 billion to the same family-led charities in November last year.

Buffett has consistently stated that he has no plans to sell his Berkshire shares. Last year, he revised his will to allocate 99.5% of his remaining wealth to a charitable trust, which will be managed by his three children. The trio will be responsible for distributing the funds within ten years of his passing, and all decisions must be made unanimously.

Buffett’s children—Susie, 71; Howard, 70; and Peter, 67—lead foundations focused on a range of causes. The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation supports reproductive health initiatives. The Sherwood Foundation backs Nebraska-based nonprofits and early childhood education. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation addresses global hunger, human trafficking, and conflict zones. The NoVo Foundation advocates for marginalized women and girls and supports Indigenous communities.

Although contributions to the Gates Foundation will cease upon his death, Buffett’s philanthropic legacy will continue through the family-led trust that will steward his remaining wealth for charitable causes.

Berkshire Hathaway, with a market value of over $1 trillion, owns nearly 200 businesses across industries, including Geico, BNSF Railway, and major stakes in companies such as Apple and American Express.

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