The total lifetime giving of the nation’s top 25 philanthropists rose 14 percent to $241 billion in 2024—$30 billion more than last year’s total—yet charitable giving hasn’t kept pace with the growth of their fortunes, Forbes reports.

According to Forbes, the fortunes of the 25 biggest givers were largely buttressed by significant stock market returns, which fueled a combined increase in net worth to $1.6 trillion—an 18.5 percent increase year-over-year. For the fifth consecutive year, Warren Buffett and his family topped the list in terms of total giving ($62 billion over his lifetime; 30 percent of his net worth), and he donated more in the past year than anyone else, a total of $5.3 billion. Other notable donors on the list include George Soros, who has given away a larger percentage of his current net worth than anyone else on the list (76 percent); MacKenzie Scott, who awarded more than $2.6 billion in 2024; and one newcomer who climbed the ranks, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings. Jeff Bezos—worth an estimated $250 billion—moved up one slot with lifetime giving of $4.1 billion, notably the smallest percentage (1.6 percent) of his wealth of any among the top 25.

Following Buffett, the list includes Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates (lifetime giving $47.7 billion; 26 percent of combined net worth); Soros; Michael Bloomberg ($21.1 billion; 17 percent); and Scott ($19.25 billion, 36 percent). Rounding out the top 10 are Marilyn Simons and family ($9.4 billion, 23 percent); Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan ($5.1 billion, 2.1 percent); Steve and Connie Ballmer ($4.99 billion, 3.7 percent); Bezos; and Phil and Penny Knight ($3.98 billion, 10 percent).

For a complete list of top philanthropists, see the Forbes website.

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