Top 5 Philanthropist in the World

“We make a living by what we get… But we make a life by what we give” – Winston Churchill A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, or reputation to charitable causes. It is witnessed that most reputed businessmen and billionaires in the world have made significant donations towards charity for various causes. Here is the list of few of the greatest philanthropist in the World.

1) Warren Buffett

About & Source of Wealth: Warren Buffett, popularly known as the ‘Oracle of Omaha’ is considered to be the world most successful investor of the 20^th century. After his graduation from Colombia University, Buffett worked under his professor Ben Graham, where he learnt the Principles of Value Investing. Buffett picks brilliant companies at cheap prices offering great value which has helped him earn his fortune which in turn has made him the 2^nd richest man in the world. He is widely popular for his philanthropy, where he has pledge to give away 99% of his fortune to Charity.

Country: USA

Net Worth: $66.7 Billion

Amount Donated: $30.7 Billion

Cause: Education, Health Care, Access to Technology, Poverty. 

2) Bill Gates

About & Source of Wealth: Bill Gates, an American Business Magnate, Philanthropist and an Investor is the technology tycoon as well a Harvard dropout who brought a revolution in the tech world by starting World’s Largest Software company ‘Microsoft’ in 1975. Starting in 1987, Gates was included in the Forbes list of the World's Wealthiest People and he was the World’s most wealthiest overall from 1995 to 2014 – excluding a few years after the financial crisis of 2007–08. Bill Gates in spite of being the world’s richest is known for being down to earth and philanthropy.  In 2000, Gates and his wife combined three family foundations to start ‘Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’, which was recognised as the world's wealthiest charitable foundation, with assets reportedly valued at more than $34.6 billion.

Country: USA

Net Worth: $79.2 Billion

Amount Donated: $29 Billion

Cause: Education, Health Care, Sanitation

3) Li Ka Shing

About & Source of Wealth: Li Ka-Shing is Business Man, investor and a philanthropist from Hong Kong. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, as of 16 April 2014 he is the richest person in Asia. Li Ka-Shing is the chairmen of CK Hutchison Holding Company, which is the world’s largest operator of container terminal and also the world’s largest health and beauty retailer. He is considered one of the most powerful man of Asia, apart from that he is also regarded as one of Asia's most generous philanthropists for donating over US$2.18 billion as of August 2015^. to charity and other various philanthropic causes. His total donations towards philanthropic causes exceeds US$10 Billion.

Country: Born- China, Citizenship: Hong Kong & Canada

Net Worth: $34 Billion

Amount Donated: $10 Billion

Cause: Education, Health Care

4) George Soros

About & Source of Wealth: Soros, Hungarian-born American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, author and chairman of Soros Fund Management. After graduation, Soros found it difficult to get a job. He settled for a job as a traveling salesman for a fancy-goods wholesaler selling to retailers. His Financial Career Began at Singer & Friedlander, which was a financial Institution and later extended to companies like FM Mayers. Wartheim & Company, etc. Later in 1970 Seros started his own Company named Seros Fund Management, which was a road that led to success. Soros has been an active philanthropist since 1970 who has donated billions towards various causes.

Country: Hungary

Net Worth: $24.5 Billion

Amount Donated: $6 Billion

Cause: Education, Human Rights, Economic Legal and Social Reforms 

5) Azim Premji

About & Source of Wealth:  Azim Premji is an Indian business tycoon, investor and philanthropist. He is the chairman of the India’s one of the largest $Billion IT giant ‘Wipro Limited’, informally known as the Czar of the Indian IT Industry.  He was voted among the 20 most powerful men in the world by AsiaWeek. He has twice been listed among the 100 most influential people by TIME Magazine. Premji owns 73% percent of Wipro. In 2013 he gave away 25 per cent of his personal wealth to charity and has also pledged to give away the rest of 25% in the next 5 years. In 2001, he founded Azim Premji Foundation, a non-profit organisation, with a vision to significantly contribute to achieving quality universal education. In December 2010, he pledged to donate $2 billion for improving school education in India. This has been done by transferring 213 million equity shares of Wipro Ltd, to the Azim Premji Trust. This donation is the largest of its kind in India.

Country: India

Net Worth: $16.2 Billion

Amount Donated: $2 Billion

Cause: Education, Health Care