Entrepreneur Surpasses Gates and Buffett as US's Largest Donor of 2025 with $4 Billion Philanthropic Effort

2025 Philanthropy 50 List: Michael Bloomberg Tops the Chart

Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and former New York Mayor, has emerged as the largest individual donor in the United States, contributing $4.3 billion to various causes in 2025. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy's Philanthropy 50 list, Bloomberg's donation placed him at No. 1 for the third consecutive year, marking one of the most significant private contributions in recent years.

Bloomberg's philanthropic efforts spanned arts, education, public health, environmental projects, and city-government initiatives. His contribution far exceeded those of other top-tier philanthropists, including Bill Gates, who donated $3.7 billion in 2025, primarily to the Gates Foundation's global health and development programs. Warren Buffett, one of America's most consistent philanthropists, contributed $1.3 billion to four family foundations.

The financial industry accounted for the largest share of donors, while the technology sector contributed nearly half of the total dollars given, with 12 tech philanthropists collectively donating $10 billion. Bloomberg's contribution, sourced from his decades-old financial-data empire, led this shift in sector-driven philanthropy.

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The Philanthropy 50 dataset highlights the widening gap between high-impact donors and their peers who remain less enthusiastic about donating large sums. Only 19 of the Forbes 400 richest Americans contributed enough to appear on the 2025 Philanthropy 50 list, underscoring the concentration of outsized giving among a small circle.

Sector Breakdown of Donations:

• Science and Technology: $3.1 billion
• Healthcare and Medical Research: $1.5 billion
• Financial Industry: 34% of donors
• Technology Sector: 26% of total dollars given