Warren Buffett’s $6 billion donation sends Berkshire Hathaway shares to five foundations as he continues his long-term philanthropic commitment.
Warren Buffett Announces $6 Billion Donation
Warren Buffett has made another major move in his long-term philanthropic mission. The billionaire investor donated about $6 billion in Berkshire Hathaway shares to five foundations.
Berkshire Hathaway announced the donation in June 2025. Buffett converted 8,239 Class A shares into more than 12.35 million Class B shares. He then designated nearly all of those shares for charitable organizations.
The Warren Buffett $6 billion donation became his largest annual charitable gift since he began his major giving program in 2006.
Five Foundations Receive Buffett’s Shares
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust received the largest portion. Buffett allocated more than 9.43 million Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares to the organization.
The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation received more than 943,000 shares.
Meanwhile, three other foundations each received more than 660,000 shares. They include the Sherwood Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation and NoVo Foundation.
Buffett’s children have close connections with those three organizations. Susan Buffett leads the Sherwood Foundation, while Howard Buffett leads his namesake foundation. Peter Buffett and his wife, Jennifer, founded the NoVo Foundation.
Buffett Has Donated Billions Since 2006
The latest Warren Buffett $6 billion donation continues a giving strategy that started almost two decades ago.
Buffett began making large annual donations in 2006. At the time, he owned 474,998 Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares. Those shares represented most of his personal wealth.
Since then, Buffett has donated Berkshire shares worth tens of billions of dollars. Berkshire’s rising share price has also helped his remaining fortune maintain enormous value.
After the 2025 donation, Buffett still owned 198,117 Class A shares and 1,144 Class B shares.
Nearly All of Buffett’s Estate Will Go to Charity
Buffett has repeatedly explained his plans for his fortune. He intends to direct about 99.5% of his estate toward philanthropic causes.
His strategy differs from making one enormous donation at the end of his life. Instead, Buffett has gradually transferred Berkshire Hathaway shares to charitable organizations for years.
This approach gives foundations access to significant resources while Buffett continues to oversee Berkshire Hathaway.
A Historic Philanthropic Commitment
The Warren Buffett $6 billion donation represents another milestone in his decades-long giving campaign. It also strengthens the financial resources of five major foundations.
Buffett’s approach has turned a substantial portion of his Berkshire Hathaway fortune into charitable funding. His latest donation continues that strategy while reinforcing his pledge to give away nearly all of his wealth.
