Every year Businessweek magazine publishes a list of the top 50 philanthropists in the United States. Many of America's ultra-rich continued to give big donations to charity in 2008, despite the worst financial crisis in decades.
Here's a list of the top ten givers. We've already featured Bill Gates in this blog as one of the people we admire. In the coming weeks, we'll be sure to tell you more about some of the people on this list.
1. Warren Buffett
Berkshire Hathaway CEO
2004-08 Giving* $40,655 million
Berkshire Hathaway CEO
2004-08 Giving* $40,655 million
Microsoft co-founder
2004-08 Giving* $2,625 million
3. George Kaiser
Oil and gas, banking, investments
2004-08 Giving* $2,377 million
2004-08 Giving* $2,625 million
3. George Kaiser
Oil and gas, banking, investments
2004-08 Giving* $2,377 million
4. George Soros
Investor
2004-08 Giving* $2,214 million
5. William Barron Hilton
Heir and former CEO of Hilton Hotels
2004-08 Giving* $1,700 million
6. Walton Family
Family of Wal-Mart founder
2004-08 Giving* $1,380 million
7. Herbert & Marion Sandler
Golden West Financial co-founders
Investor
2004-08 Giving* $2,214 million
5. William Barron Hilton
Heir and former CEO of Hilton Hotels
2004-08 Giving* $1,700 million
6. Walton Family
Family of Wal-Mart founder
2004-08 Giving* $1,380 million
7. Herbert & Marion Sandler
Golden West Financial co-founders
2004-08 Giving* $1,329 million
8. Peter Peterson
Blackstone Group co-founder
Blackstone Group co-founder
2004-08 Giving* $1,168 million
9. Donald Bren
Real estate developer
2004-08 Giving* $908 million
10. Michael Bloomberg
Bloomberg founder, NYC Mayor
2004-08 Giving* $903 million
Bloomberg founder, NYC Mayor
2004-08 Giving* $903 million
6. Walton Family
Family of Wal-Mart founder
2004-08 Giving* $1,380 million
I seriously doubt that the Walton family ever gave anything to anyone.
Philanthropists at times would want to be anonymous so there's no telling really as who are at the top of the list. As not all rich people who give back to people would want to be known.