James Chen: What makes a good billionaire?

The chairman of The Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation walked into the World Bank 20 years ago, convinced he had solved a problem affecting 2.2 billion people.

The top 3

  1. Three Most Generous Billionaires by Total Giving: Warren Buffett leads with $56.7 billion in lifetime giving, followed by Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates with $42.5 billion, and George Soros with $21 billion, focusing on health, poverty, democracy, and human rights.
  2. Billionaires Leading the Giving Pledge: The Giving Pledge, founded by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett in 2010, encourages billionaires to donate at least half their wealth to charity, with over 250 signatories from 30 countries as of October 2025.
  3. Top Three Billionaire-Funded Foundations: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with over $60 billion in assets, focuses on global health, development, and education. The Novo Nordisk Foundation, originating from Novo Nordisk, prioritizes health, science, and sustainability. Tata Trusts, a legacy of the Tata family, also ranks among the largest.

Sources

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