OMAHA, Nebraska – Billionaire investor and Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett has delivered one of his most significant philanthropic contributions in years, donating approximately $6 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway stock to five charitable foundations. The substantial gift, announced around June 27-28, 2025, was formally delivered on June 30, 2025, according to statements related to the transaction.
This latest contribution comprises nearly 12.4 million shares of Berkshire Hathaway Class B stock and represents Mr. Buffett’s largest annual donation in almost two decades. The move underscores his enduring commitment to transferring the vast majority of his wealth to philanthropic causes, primarily through foundations established by his family and close associates.
Details of the Record Contribution
The valuation of the donation, estimated at $6 billion, is based on the market value of the Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares at the time of the gift. The specific count of shares transferred was 12,397,862 Class B shares.
This single donation significantly increases Mr. Buffett’s total contributions since 2006 to approximately $60 billion. His giving strategy has historically involved annual transfers of Berkshire Hathaway stock, primarily to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and several family foundations.
Recipient Foundations and Share Allocation
The $6 billion donation was distributed among five key philanthropic organizations, each receiving a specific allocation of Class B shares:
* The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust: This foundation, co-chaired by Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates (until her departure from the role on June 1, 2024), received the largest portion of the donation, totaling 9.4 million shares (specifically 9,400,380 shares). The Gates Foundation is a global leader in addressing issues such as poverty, disease, and inequity.
* The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation: Named in honor of Mr. Buffett’s late first wife, this foundation received 943,384 shares. It focuses primarily on reproductive health and education.
* The Sherwood Foundation: Chaired by Mr. Buffett’s daughter, Susan Buffett, this foundation received 660,366 shares. Its work centers on promoting opportunities for children and families.
* The Howard G. Buffett Foundation: Led by Mr. Buffett’s son, Howard G. Buffett, this foundation also received 660,366 shares. Its philanthropic efforts are concentrated on improving the lives of the world’s most impoverished and marginalized populations, often through agriculture and conflict mitigation.
* The NoVo Foundation: Co-founded by Mr. Buffett’s son, Peter Buffett, and his wife, Jennifer Buffett, this foundation received the remaining 660,366 shares. The NoVo Foundation supports initiatives focused on empowering women and girls, and promoting local community development.
Each of these foundations plays a distinct role in addressing a wide array of global and domestic challenges, aligning with the diverse philanthropic interests represented within the Buffett family.
Context and Historical Giving
Warren Buffett, one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, pledged in 2006 to give away the vast majority of his fortune. His plan has involved making substantial annual gifts of Berkshire Hathaway stock to the designated foundations, allowing them to significantly amplify their work over time. At the time of his initial pledge, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was designated as the primary recipient.
This latest $6 billion contribution underscores the accelerating scale of his giving as the value of Berkshire Hathaway has grown. While he has consistently made annual donations, this particular gift stands out as the largest in nearly two decades, demonstrating the increasing capacity of his shares to fund philanthropic endeavors.
Mr. Buffett has often stated that his wealth is best managed by professional philanthropic organizations with specific expertise in tackling complex societal problems, rather than being held within his estate. His ongoing stock transfers are a direct execution of this long-held philosophy.
Significance of the Donation
The $6 billion infusion of capital provides a substantial boost to the recipient foundations’ resources, enabling them to expand existing programs and launch new initiatives. Given the foundations’ focuses on areas like global health, education, poverty alleviation, and empowering marginalized populations, the impact of this donation is expected to be far-reaching.
For example, the significant allocation to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will further strengthen its capacity to invest in research for diseases like malaria and tuberculosis, support global vaccine initiatives, and work on improving educational outcomes worldwide. Similarly, the funds directed to the family foundations will bolster their efforts in their specific areas of focus, from reproductive health access to agricultural sustainability in developing regions.
The timing of the donation, delivered at the close of June 2025, ensures that these organizations can strategically plan for deploying the funds in the coming fiscal periods. Mr. Buffett’s continued commitment to such large-scale, regular giving remains a notable model in global philanthropy, providing predictable and substantial resources to organizations addressing some of the world’s most pressing issues.
