The 25 biggest philanthropists gave away a combined $27 billion in 2023, Forbes reports.

The aggregate lifetime giving of these mega-donors rose 7 percent year-over-year to nearly $211 billion. At the same time, the rise in U.S. stock markets buoyed the single-year gains in their collective fortunes, which increased 44 percent to an estimated $1.35 trillion.

For the fourth consecutive year, Warren Buffett topped the list as the biggest giver, with $56.7 billion in lifetime giving, even while the 93-year-old Giving Pledger has only donated 30 percent of his fortune, in part because the value of his Berkshire Hathaway stock keeps rising. Fellow Giving Pledger MacKenzie Scott—fifth on the list with lifetime giving of $16.58 billion—gave $2.15 billion in 2023, while reducing her stake in Amazon from 4 percent in 2019 following her divorce from Jeff Bezos to 2 percent, according to Forbes. In all, 13 of the top 25 philanthropists are signatories to the Giving Pledge, which encourages the ultra-wealthy to give away at least half of their fortunes. Bezos, who is not a pledge signatory, landed 10th on the list with lifetime giving of $3.33 billion.

Other top-10 donors include Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates ($42.5 billion in lifetime giving, $4.1 billion in 2023); George Soros, who ceded control of his fortune to his son Alexander in 2023 ($21 billion, $2.6 billion); Michael Bloomberg, who announced plans to leave his stake in Bloomberg to his foundation ($17.4 billion, $3 billion); Jim and Marilyn Simons ($6.03 billion, $830 million); Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan ($4.5 billion, $600 million); Steve and Connie Ballmer ($3.75 billion, $850 million); and Phil and Penny Knight ($3.6 billion, $230 million).

Newcomers to the list include Barbara Picower (12th on the list with lifetime giving of $3.15 billion); Bernie and Billi Marcus (23rd, $1.75 billion); Amos and Barbara Hostetter (24th, $1.61 billion); and Eric and Wendy Schmidt (25th, $1.44 billion).

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

(Photo credit: Getty Images/kathathep)