Bill Gates is the second richest person in the world. Bill Gates has till now donated $35.8 billion to charity. Bill is also the founding member of The Giving Pledge Foundation. His philanthropist activities are concentrated around the areas of healthcare, extreme poverty, education and access to information technology.
Warren Buffet, popularly known as the "Oracle of Omaha", is the fourth richest person in the world. Along with Bill Gates, he is one of the founding member of The Giving Pledge Foundation, under which world's billionaires have pledged to donate majority of their wealth before their death. Warren Buffett's philanthropist activities revolve around the areas of healthcare, education, AIDS prevention and sanitation.
Li Ka-shing is a Hong Kong based businessman who is the 30th richest person in the world. He has donated $10.7 billion towards improving the state of healthcare and education.
Andrew Carnigie was a Scottish-American industrialist. During the nineteenth century he was one of the richest American in history. He donated close to 90 per cent of his fortune in the last 18 years of his life. In 1889, he wrote an article "The Gospel Of Wealth" through which he called the rich to use their wealth to improve society and stimulate a wave of philanthropy.
Azim Premji is the founder chairman of Wipro. The 'Czar of Indian IT industry' is one of the few wealthy Indians who have agreed to give away majority of their wealth before their death under The Giving Pledge Foundation. When asked about his views on charity he said "I strongly believe that those of us, who are privileged to have wealth, should contribute significantly to try and create a better world for the millions who are far less privileged". His philanthropic works are in the areas of healthcare and education.
Chuck Freeny has been called the "James Bond" of philanthropy for his secrecy and success. He has donated for the betterment of libraries, education and peace. In 2011, Feeney joined The Giving Pledge. In his letter to Bill Gates, he wrote: "I cannot think of a more personally rewarding and appropriate use of wealth than to give while one is living-to personally devote oneself to meaningful efforts to improve the human condition. More importantly, today's needs are so great and varied that intelligent philanthropic support and positive interventions can have greater value and impact today than if they are delayed when the needs are greater."
In 2017 Soros was the 29th richest person in the world with a net worth of $25.2 billion. He has been an active philanthropist since 1970s when he funded black students in apartheid South Africa. His philanthropist works are in the areas of healthcare, human rights, economic, social and legal reforms.
Alwaleed is a charitable and philanthropic organisation founded by Al-Waleed bin Talal and Princess Ameerah. Alwaleed Philanthropies collaborates with a range of philanthropic, government and educational organisations to combat poverty, empower women and youth, develop communities, provide disaster relief and create cultural understanding through education.
Phil Knight is the founder if Nike. He is the 26th richest person in the world with a net worth of $31.8 billion. A noted philanthropist, Knight has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to each of his alma mater, as well as Oregon Health & Science University.
James Stowers was an American businessman and founder of American Century Investments and the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. In 1994, he gave $2 billion in charity towards development of healthcare by forming Stowers Institute. In 1995, Forbes called Stowers one of the "world's biggest givers", saying he had given about 95 percent of his fortune to the institute.