Michael Bloomberg is America’s top philanthropist for the second year in a row
The media mogul reportedly gave away $3.7 billion to charitable causes last year, per the 2024 Philanthropy 50 report. He explained to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, the organization that compiles the list each year, “I’ve never understood people who wait until they die to give away their wealth. Why deny yourself the satisfaction?”
This year marks the 25th edition of the annual philanthropist ranking, charting the top 50 charitable donors who disclose their gifts publicly — a caveat that means some major names like Bezos, Musk, and MacKenzie Scott are missing from the list.
Despite those omissions, the list gives insight into some of America’s biggest givers, with the top 50 donating $16.2 billion worth across a range of charitable causes last year, including public health groups, arts foundations, and, that old favorite of wealthy benefactors the world over: educational institutions.
The 2024 figure was a slight rebound from the $12.2 billion that top donors parted with the year before, with 41% of the total coming from the top three names on the list.
This year marks the 25th edition of the annual philanthropist ranking, charting the top 50 charitable donors who disclose their gifts publicly — a caveat that means some major names like Bezos, Musk, and MacKenzie Scott are missing from the list.
Despite those omissions, the list gives insight into some of America’s biggest givers, with the top 50 donating $16.2 billion worth across a range of charitable causes last year, including public health groups, arts foundations, and, that old favorite of wealthy benefactors the world over: educational institutions.
The 2024 figure was a slight rebound from the $12.2 billion that top donors parted with the year before, with 41% of the total coming from the top three names on the list.
