While inking his thoughts about philanthropy, Timothy Pina says “Philanthropy is not about money. It’s about feeling the pain of others and caring enough about their need for help.”

Philanthropy is the greatest act that benefits the overall community. Through philanthropic activities, people provide food resources to starving people and contribute to the betterment of major social and financial issues.

The wealthiest are not the ones who earn the most money but are those who believe in giving and sharing.

Here is the list of the top 10 charitable people in the world:

10. Serena Williams

Net Worth: $260 Million
Lifetime Donations: $1 Million

Famously known as the leading tennis player, Serena Williams founded The Serena Williams Foundation, which donates to education, social welfare and community development. She is also the woman behind “Yetunde Price Nursing Scholarship” which was established in association with the California Community Foundation.

Other charities that Serena supports include Common Ground Foundation, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Build African Schools, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Driving Force Giving Circle, Hearts of Gold, and World Education.

9. J.K. Rowling

Net Worth: $1 Billion
Lifetime Donations: $160 Million

J.K. Rowling is not just famous for her Harry Potter book series but is also recognized for her exemplary work in philanthropy.

Her international nonprofit organisation, Lumos aids orphaned children in troubled situations in finding their families or providing them with a home to live in. She also showed her support for the Charity Comic Relief. She donated more than £17 million for Comic Relief. that she raised from the sale of ‘Quidditch Through the Ages’ and ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.’

8. Oprah Winfrey

Net Worth: $2.6 Billion
Lifetime Donations: $240 Million

An American Talk Show host, actress, and author, Oprah Winfrey makes to the list of Top Charitable People in the world due to her donations of millions of dollars to fund charities and different interests.

Her foundation, The Oprah Winfrey Foundation work towards supporting the inspiration, empowerment, and education of women, children, and families around the globe. She once said, “Think about what you have to give, not in terms of dollars because I believe that your life is about service. It’s about what you came to give the world, to your children, to your family.”

7. Andrew Carnegie

Net Worth: $475 Million
Lifetime Donations: $350 Million

Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist who was also a very famous philanthropist of his era. Although he is no more in the world, he is still counted among the top 10 charitable people in the world.

Andrew’s philanthropic interests revolved around the goals of education and global peace. One of his lifelong interests was the establishment of free public libraries to promote a means of self-education for everyone. At that time, there were only a few public libraries in the world when, in 1881, Carnegie began to promote his thought.

6. Mark Zuckerberg & Priscilla Chan

Net Worth: $ 90 Billion
Lifetime Donations: $2.7 Billion

An American media magnate, billionaire, and famous philanthropist, Mark Zuckerberg along with his wife Priscilla Chan donated around $25 million in the struggle against Ebola. They have also donated $75 million to San Francisco General Hospital through the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

They both once said, “We will spend our lives working to make sure future generations have the greatest opportunities possible.”

5. George Soros

Net Worth: $8.6 Billion
Lifetime Donations: $12 Billion

A Hungarian-born American businessman and philanthropist, George Soros began his philanthropy work in 1979 by giving scholarships to Black South Africans under apartheid. The next year, he helped promote the open exchange of ideas in Communist Hungary by funding academic visits to the West and supporting fledgling independent cultural groups, along with many other initiatives.

In 2017, George transferred the bulk of his wealth to his charitable organization, the Open Society Foundations, an international group of charities working in 100+ countries on projects including refugee relief and public health.

4. Azim Hashim Premji

Net Worth: 8.7 Billion
Lifetime Donations: $21 Billion

Another name on the list of top 10 charitable people is Azim Premji, the very famous Indian businessman and Chairman of Wipro Limited. Azim Premji Foundation works for the betterment of disadvantaged and marginalised sections of society by offering them immediate care, access to essential services, and the possibility of a dignified future.

He once said that he strongly believes 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 than us.

3. Bill Gates & Melinda Gates

Net Worth: $111.7 Billion (Bill Gates) $6.3 Billion (Melinda Gates)
Lifetime Donations: $28 Billion

The CoFounder and Chairman of the World’s big tech giant Microsoft, Bill Gates along with one of the most powerful women and his ex-wife Melinda Gates is involved in a lot of philanthropic work.

Through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, both of them are trying to fight poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. In a recent move in July 2022, Bill Gates poured another $20bn into the charitable foundation.

2. Warren Buffett

Net Worth: $101.7 Billion
Lifetime Donations: $48 Billion

The legendary investor & Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett has pledged for years to give away the bulk of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

While serving as the Trustee (2006-2021) of the Foundation, he helped shape the vision and develop strategies to address some of the world’s most challenging inequities.

1. Jamsetji Tata

Net Worth: NA
Lifetime Donations: $102.4 Billion

Jamsetji Tata is the world’s biggest philanthropist of the last century with donations worth $102.4 billion, much ahead of Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and more. He was also ranked first in the “Hurun Philanthropists of the Century” (2021).

Although he is no more in this world, his philanthropic contributions are making an admirable change in society.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is philanthropy?

Philanthropy is charitable giving by people and organisations to different causes and includes donating money, time, and other forms of altruism. Philanthropy is quite different from doing charity.

2. Who are the top philanthropists in India?