America’s top philanthropists revealed | HELLO!

Mackenzie, who is Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife, was named the world’s most generous philanthropist in 2025, after donating $7.2 billion of her wealth to 186 organizations in one year alone.

Following her divorce from Jeff in 2019, she was given $38 billion in Amazon stock, making her the third-wealthiest woman in the world. She pledged to give away as much of her money as possible, and has donated more than 75% of her Amazon shares since.

She has given away a total of $26 billion to more than 2,500 organizations following her divorce, and handed over $760 million alone to 18 historically Black colleges and universities in 2025.

The former CEO of Berkshire Hathaway is the top philanthropist of all time as per Forbes, having given away $68.3 billion of his wealth over his lifetime.

Warren, whose current net worth sits around $146 billion, retired as CEO in 2025 and continued to donate to various organizations, including a $6 billion stock giveaway to the Gates Foundation and four Buffett family foundations.

The former couple, who divorced in 2021, have donated $52.6 billion over the years, primarily through their Gates Foundation. 

Melinda stepped down from her position at the foundation in 2024 to focus on her own philanthropy and has since dedicated herself to improving the lives of women and families. 

Meanwhile, Bill’s foundation works to fight poverty, disease and inequity by making large grants to smaller organizations.

The billionaire businessman has given away $25.4 billion of his wealth over his lifetime, amounting to 19% of his overall net worth. 

Michael’s focus has been on climate change and education, and he donated more than $502 million to historically Black colleges and universities in 2025.

He also donated $91 million to environmental organizations like Vital Strategies and Pure Earth, and launched the Lead Poisoning Prevention Initiative.

The Hungarian-American investor has given away 76% of his wealth since he began his charitable ventures decades ago, amounting to $24 billion. 

In 2024, his Open Society Foundations donated over $1 billion to social justice and human rights groups, including $7 million to the Barack Obama Foundation, $3.5 million to West Africa Democracy Radio and $16 million to Central European University.

In the past, he has also made significant contributions to educational initiatives, poverty prevention organizations, and progressive and liberal political causes.  

Marilyn is the widow of the late hedge fund manager and mathematician Jim Simons, and is worth an incredible $32.5 billion in total. 

Together with her husband, she founded the Simons Foundation in 1994, focusing on supporting scientific research around the world and advancing the frontiers of maths and science. 

Over the years, Marilyn and her husband donated $10.3 billion of their net worth, and she gave away $80 million in 2025 to launch the Simons Collaboration on Ecological Neuroscience.