Current events, news, politics, culture, and more from Slate Magazine
Ask.com



The Slate 60: Analysis of the Year's Biggest Philanthropists.

The 2006 Slate 60

The 60 Largest American Charitable Contributions of the Year

Rank Donor Source of Wealth Amount Donated/Pledged Amount Paid Payment recipients Notes
1 Warren E. BuffettInvestments 43.5 billion 1.9 billion Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation, NoVo Foundation, Nuclear Threat Initiative, Susan A. Buffett Foundation, Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation Mr. Buffett's pledges to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Susan A. Buffett Foundation, and the NoVo Foundation were calculated based on the value of Berkshire Hathaway class B stock as of Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007.
2 Herbert M. Sandler, Marion O. SandlerFinance, investments 1.3 billion 1.3 billion Sandler Family Supporting Foundation  
3 Bernard Osher, Barbro OsherFinance, investments 723.2 million 723.2 million Bernard Osher Foundation  
4 Jim JosephReal estate 500.0 million
(bequest)
50.0 million Jim Joseph Foundation  
5 Hector Guy, Doris Di StefanoFamily wealth 264.0 million
(bequest)
264.0 million Alexandria (VA) Salvation Army, Direct Relief International, Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust, Greenpeace International Inc., Humane Society, Santa Barbara Hospice Foundation, Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care of Santa Barbara, World Wildlife Fund  
6 David RockefellerFamily wealth 252.0 million 9.5 million Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Harvard University, Historic Hudson Valley, International House, Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics, Rockefeller Brothers Fund  
7 Mary Joan PalevskyInvestments 212.8 million
(bequest)
212.8 million California Community Foundation, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Mount St. Mary's College, National Parkinson Foundation, Other groups, United Negro College Fund, University of California at Los Angeles, University of California press  
8 Boone PickensOil, investments 171.5 million 171.5 million Other groups, T. Boone Pickens Foundation  
9 Michael BloombergMedia and entertainment 165.0 million 165.0 million Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Centers for Disease Control, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School for Public Health, Other groups, World Health Organization, World Lung Foundation Mr. Bloomberg declined to disclose the names of 995 groups to which he gave.
10 Lorry I. LokeyMedia and entertainment 163.0 million 163.0 million Lorry I. Lokey Supporting Foundation, Other groups, Stanford University Donor Advised Fund  
11 Robert W. WilsonInvestments 147.2 million 14.8 million American Bird Conservancy, Environmental Defense, Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, World Monuments Fund  
12 Arthur ZankelFinance, investments 141.0 million
(bequest)
141.0 million Carnegie Hall, Nature Conservancy, Other groups, Skidmore College, Society of Illustrators, Teachers College, UJA-Federation of New York, Zankel Fund  
13 Eli Broad, Edythe L. BroadFinance, real estate 137.6 million 137.6 million Broad Foundations  
14 Dan L. Duncan FamilyEnergy 115.0 million   Baylor College of Medicine, Children's Learning Institute at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston Museum of Natural Science Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
15 Joseph NeubauerFood and beverage, industry 114.6 million 114.6 million Fund for Eakins' Masterpiece, Neubauer Family Foundation, Other groups  
16 Philip H. KnightManufacturing 105.0 million   Stanford University Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
17 Ronald P. StantonChemicals 100.0 million $25,000 Yeshiva University Mr. Stanton gave $100,025,000, which is not reflected the rounded figure. Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
18 Mortimer B. ZuckermanMedia and entertainment, real estate 100.0 million   Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
18 Henry M. Paulson, Wendy J. PaulsonFinance 100.0 million 100.0 million Bobolink Foundation, Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund  
18 Lawrence J. EllisonTechnology 100.0 million 5.0 million Ellison Medical Foundation  
18 John ArrillagaReal estate 100.0 million 100.0 million Stanford University  
22 Peter B. LewisFinance 99.0 million 28.6 million American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Fountain House, Other groups, Princeton University  
23 Tim Marquez, Bernadette MarquezOil 85.0 million 85.0 million Denver Foundation, Marquez Foundation  
24 Jon L. StrykerFamily wealth 73.2 million 73.2 million Arcus Foundation, Other groups  
25 Theodore (Ted) Stanley, Vada StanleyRetail 73.1 million 38.1 million Stanley Medical Research Institute (Chevy Chase, Md.); other groups  
26 T. Denny SanfordFinance 70.5 million $233,000 First Tee at St. Paul Highland Junior Golf Program, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Other groups, Sioux Empire United Way, South Dakota Science and Technology Authority, St. Paul Central High School, WPO Foundation  
27 Gary C. Comer, Frances ComerRetail 67.0 million 67.0 million Comer Science and Education Foundation, University of Chicago  
28 Pierre Omidyar, Pam OmidyarTechnology 66.7 million 66.7 million HopeLab, Other groups, The Omidyar Network  
29 Irwin Jacobs, Joan JacobsTelecommunications 62.0 million $700,000 American Technion Society, Cornell University, KPBS Radio and Television, San Diego Natural History Museum Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
30 Ronald O. PerelmanFinance, investments 60.8 million 10.8 million Carnegie Hall, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Other groups, Revlon Run/Walk, World Trade Center Memorial Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
31 Ernest Rady, Evelyn RadyFinance, real estate 60.0 million   Children's Hospital and Health Center Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
31 Edward P. BassFinance, investments 60.0 million   Yale University Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
31 John P. Morgridge, Tashia F. MorgridgeTechnology 60.0 million 10.0 million Lesley University, Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
31 George SorosFinance 60.0 million 10.0 million Millennium Promise Alliance, Open Society Institute (New York)  
35 Oprah WinfreyMedia and entertainment 58.3 million 58.3 million Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation, Oprah's Angel Network, Other groups  
36 Wallace D. Malone Jr.Finance 55.9 million 55.9 million Malone Family Foundation  
37 Thomas M. SiebelTechnology 55.8 million 55.8 million Meth Project Foundation, National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy, Other groups, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Stanford University, Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign  
38 H.F. (Gerry) Lenfest, Marguerite B. LenfestMedia and entertainment 55.7 million 6.2 million Columbia University, Franklin Institute, Fund for Eakins' Masterpiece, Gesu School, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Saint Joseph's University Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
39 David H. KochOil 55.0 million 7.0 million American Museum of Natural History, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
40 Frederic N. Schwartz, Eleanor H. SchwartzPharmaceuticals 53.5 million
(bequest)
53.5 million Brown University, Syracuse University  
41 Paul G. AllenTechnology 52.8 million 52.8 million Experience Music Project, New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Science Fiction Museum  
42 Peter S. Bing, Helen BingFamily wealth, investments 50.5 million $500,000 Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
43 Melvin Simon, Bren SimonReal estate 50.0 million   Indiana University Cancer Center Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
43 John Weberg, Jacque WebergRetail 50.0 million 3.0 million Opportunity International  
43 DeVos FamilyInvestments, real estate 50.0 million   Spectrum Health Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
46 Geoffrey BeeneRetail, manufacturing 44.0 million
(bequest)
44.0 million Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center  
47 Jonathan M. TischFinance, hotels 40.0 million 40.0 million Tufts University Mr. Tisch gave $40,047,500, which is not reflected in the rounded figure.
48 Jack Lord, Marie LordEntertainment, investments 40.0 million
(bequest)
40.0 million Hawaii Community Foundation  
49 Sanford I. Weill, Joan WeillFinance 37.6 million 37.6 million Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Foundation, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, Hebrew Home for the Aged, National Academy Foundation, Touch Foundation, Weill Family Foundation  
50 Gilbert D. Mead, Jaylee M. MeadFamily wealth 37.2 million 32.9 million Arena Stage, Community Foundation of South Wood County, Signature Theatre  
51 Eugenia J. DodsonFamily wealth, investments 35.6 million
(bequest)
35.6 million Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center  
52 Marvin J. and Judith A. Herb FamilyIndustry, investments 35.3 million $514,600 Rush University Medical Center, University of Toledo Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
53 Ming HsiehTechnology 35.0 million 35.0 million University of Southern California Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
53 Jeannik Mequet LittlefieldEnergy, family wealth, investments 35.0 million   San Francisco Opera Association Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
55 Burt McMurty, Deedee McMurtyFinance, industry 32.0 million   Rice University  
56 Ward W. Woods, Priscilla WoodsFinance, investments 30.0 million   Stanford University Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
56 Sheldon G. Adelson, Miriam AdelsonHotels 30.0 million   Birthright Israel, Yad Vashem Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
56 Monte Ahuja, Usha AhujaManufacturing 30.0 million   University Hospitals of Cleveland Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
56 William E. MacaulayFinance 30.0 million   City University of New York Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.
56 Jay A. PrecourtOil 30.0 million   Stanford University Recipient or donor declined to disclose how much of the pledge was paid in 2006.

build your own slate
feedback | about us | help | advertise | newsletters | mobile

2007 Washington Post.Newsweek Interactive Co. LLC
User Agreement and Privacy Policy | All rights reserved