Warren Buffett just made history again. On Friday, the 94-year-old investor donated a record $6 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway stock to five charities, including the Gates Foundation. This marks his biggest annual donation yet since he began giving away his fortune back in 2006.
Buffett gave away 12.36 million Class B Berkshire shares in total. Most of them—9.43 million shares—went to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on global health and poverty. He also donated nearly 943,384 shares to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, named after his late wife. The rest—about 660,366 shares each—went to the foundations run by his children: Howard, Susie, and Peter.
Even after this massive donation, Warren Buffett still owns 13.8% of Berkshire’s stock. That shows just how massive his empire is.
Buffett’s Wealth and Legacy
Before the donation, Buffett’s net worth was $152 billion, making him the fifth-richest person in the world, according to Forbes. After this donation, he drops to sixth place—but not that he minds. Giving has always been the plan.
Buffett has been slowly giving away his wealth for nearly 20 years. In total, he’s now donated more than $60 billion. Last year, he gave $5.3 billion in June and another $1.14 billion in November.
His Will? 99.5% to Charity
Buffett also made big news last year by updating his will. When he dies, 99.5% of his remaining fortune will go to a charitable trust managed by his children. The three of them must agree unanimously on how the money is spent. They’ll have around ten years to get it done.
Susie is 71. Howard is 70. Peter is 67. Each of them already runs their own foundation. The Sherwood Foundation backs nonprofits in Nebraska. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation fights hunger and human trafficking. The NoVo Foundation helps girls, women, and indigenous groups.
Still Going Strong at 94
Buffett has led Berkshire Hathaway since 1965. The company is now worth over $1 trillion. It owns more than 200 businesses, including Geico and BNSF Railway, and holds big stocks like Apple and American Express.
Despite the huge donation, Buffett said he has no plans to sell any of his shares. He also noted that donations to the Gates Foundation will stop when he dies, making this year’s gift even more meaningful.
This isn’t just charity—it’s a masterclass in how to give back with power and purpose.
Also Read 5 Hilarious Jokes from Warren Buffett That Had Investors Laughing at the 2025 Berkshire Meeting!
