Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and philanthropist, has announced a new round of charitable giving: a $6 billion donation in Berkshire Hathaway stock to five foundations. This move brings the total value of his philanthropic contributions since 2006 to an estimated $60 billion, based on the value of the shares at the time they were donated.
The latest gift involves nearly 12.4 million Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway, scheduled to be transferred on Monday. Each share was valued at $485.68 at Friday’s market close. Class B shares are more accessible in price than the company’s storied Class A stock, which is among the most expensive in the world.
The largest share of the donation—9.4 million shares—will go to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, continuing a long-standing partnership that has channeled billions toward global health and education initiatives. The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, named after Buffett’s late wife, will receive 943,384 shares. Three other family-affiliated organizations—the Sherwood Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and the NoVo Foundation—will each receive 660,366 shares.
This latest round of giving comes a year after Buffett revealed he would cease donations to the Gates Foundation upon his death, opting instead to allow his three children to decide how the remainder of his vast fortune will be distributed.
Berkshire Hathaway’s Class B stock has surged 19.1% over the past year, outperforming the broader U.S. market, which returned about 14.1% including dividends. Buffett’s conservative, value-driven investing strategy—focused on acquiring companies at fair prices and avoiding market hype—has long been credited for the company’s stability and growth.
Now aged 93, Buffett has amassed a personal fortune of approximately $145 billion, nearly all of which is tied up in Berkshire stock. But wealth accumulation, for him, was never the endgame.
“Nothing extraordinary has occurred at Berkshire,” Buffett said in a statement accompanying the announcement. “A very long runway, simple and generally sound decisions, the American tailwind, and compounding effects produced my current wealth.”
He also reaffirmed that 99.5% of his estate, according to his will, will ultimately be used for philanthropic purposes.
As one of the most generous donors in modern history, Warren Buffett continues to set a standard for giving that few can match — and fewer still dare to imagine.