A philanthropist is someone who donates his/her time, reputation or/and money to charitable causes. A philanthropist always may not find universal acceptance for his good deeds.
They are those people who donate large amounts of money or who make a great impact through volunteering. There are many people in the world who donate and help other people.
But, we have listed the top 10 philanthropists in the world.
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Here is the list of top 10 greatest philanthropists in the world:
10. James E. Stowers
James E. Stowers was an American businessman and was a founder of American Century Investments and the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.
He was born on 10th January 1924 in Kansas City, Missouri, the USA. He was graduated from Kemper Military School and completed his degree from the University of Missouri and also completed his two-year degree in Medicine.
Later, he joined the Army Air Corps where he served as a fighter pilot and gunnery instructor and resigned his job in 1957. He didn’t want to be a doctor like his father and grandfather so, he decided to enter into business.
Then, he started Twentieth-century Mutual Funds in Kansas City, Missouri in 1958. Later, the name of the company was changed and replaced by the American century Investments in 1997.
James and his wife both are cancer survivors in 1994. Then he founded the Stowers Institute for Medical Research for the health facility to the public.
He also gives a $2 billion biomedical research facility in this Institute in Kansas City and played a vital role in the medical sector by spending $2 billion.
He died on 17th March 2014 at the age of 90 at his home in Kansas City.
9. Phil Knight
Phil Knight is an American Businessman and Co-founder of Nike, Inc. He was also previously chairman and CEO of the company. Knight was born in Portland, Oregon, the USA on 24th February 1938.
He completed his study and graduated from the University of Oregon and Stanford Graduate School of Business. Knight also joined the army and actively served duty for 1 year and seven years in the Army Reserved.
During his world tour, he was impressed by Tiger brand running shoe which is manufactured by Onitsuka Co. Then, he meets Mr. Onitsuka and secured Tiger distribution rights for the western United States.
On January 25, 1964, Knight and Bowerman handshake for partnership and started a Blue Ribbon Sports. Later it becomes Nike, Inc. he becomes a billionaire businessman and was the most charitable person in the world.
He was also the 21st richest person in the world according to Forbes 2019. Knight is also one of the most philanthropists in the world.
He donated his more than $2 billion money for better education, healthcare, and intercollegiate athletics.
8. Alwaleed Philanthropies
Alwaleed Philanthropies is a Charitable and Philanthropic organization located in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and was founded by Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud.
In the beginning, this organization was named as Al Waleed bin Talal Humanitarian Foundation. Al-Waleed bin Talal Al Saud is a Saudi Arabian prince, businessman, investor, and member of the Saudi royal family.
Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud founded this organization for the development of better education, empowerment of women, community development, and many other fields.
At the initial stage, this organization helps alleviate suffering and transcend international borders globally.
This charitable organization has a network of partners and NGOs and does many local, regional, and international activities that help to improve cultural understanding, women’s empowerment, community development, and rapid aid for natural disasters in many countries.
People also can donate their money to needy people through this organization.
7. George Soros
George Soros is a Hungarian-American investor and philanthropist. George Soros was born in Budapest, the Kingdom of Hungary on 12th August 1930.
He completed his graduation from the London School of Economics. Then, he began his business career by starting the Soros Fund Management and by taking various jobs at merchant banks in the UK and the US.
Soros fund management is a private American investment management firm. In the beginning, it was known as the hedge fund established in 1969. George Soros is also a billionaire investor and has a net worth of $8 billion.
He also donated more than $32 million to open society foundations for the welfare of the people. George is also one of the greatest philanthropists who donate more than $6.1 million for healthcare, anti-fascist publications, human rights, economic, legal, and social reform.
6. Chuck Feeney
Chuck Feeney is an American businessman and the founder of The Atlantic Philanthropies. Feeney was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the USA. on 23rd April 1931.
He has completed his graduation from Elizabeth’s St. Mary of the Assumption High School in 1949.
He has served as the US Air force radio operator during the Korean War in the 1950s. Then, he began his career as a selling duty-free liquor to US naval personnel in the 1950s at Mediterranean ports.
Chuck Feeney has founded The Atlantic Philanthropies in 1982.
He secretly his entire 38.75% stake in DFS which is worth about $500 million in this foundation for the public welfare.
He donated his money which is more than $6.8 billion for healthcare, youth, ageing, poverty, and human rights.
5. Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American, industrialist, businessman, and one of the greatest Philanthropists of all time. Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland on 25th November 1835.
He was one of the richest Americans in history. Carnegie expands the steel industry in America in the 19th century.
He started work as a telegrapher and had made investments in railroads, railroad sleeping cars, bridges, and oil derricks. Further, he accumulated wealth from the bond salesman.
Later, he built Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Steel Company and he sold this company to J.P Morgan in 1901. Carnegie has spent the rest of his life as a Philanthropists.
He donated his money on local libraries, world peace, education, and scientific research. He also founded many foundations and organizations for public welfare. Carnegie has donated more than $9.5 billion through her foundation.
He founded organizations like Carnegie Corporation of New York, Carnegie Endowment for international peace, Carnegie Institution for Science, Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, Carnegie Hero Fund, and many more.
4. Li Ka-Shing
Li Ka-Shing is a Hongkong Businessman, investor, and great philanthropist who was born in Chao’an Chaozhou, Guangdong, China on 13th June 1928.
After the death of his father, he started a job in a plastics trading company. Later in 1950, he started his own company named Cheung Kong Industries.
At the starting phase company manufacture plastic and later he leads it into a leading real estate investment company in Hong Kong.
Li is the 30th richest person in the world as of June 2019 record with an estimated net wealth of Us $29.4 billion.
He is currently the world’s leading developer, port Investor, and operator of the largest health and beauty retailer in Asia and Europe.
Li is one of the greatest philanthropists in the world and has founded the second-largest private foundation in the world for the welfare of the people.
He donated more than $10.7 billion in the field of education and healthcare in different countries.
3. Azim Premji
Azim Premji is an Indian businessman, engineer, and investor who was born in Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India on 24th July 1945.
He has completed his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from Standford University. Premji was the chairman of Wipro Limited and informally known as the Czar of the IT industry in India.
During his chairmanship, he emerges his company as a global leader in the software industry.
He was the 20 most powerful men in the world in the list published by Asiaweek. He also listed in the 100 most influential people by Time magazine in 2004 and 2011.
He is the 10th richest person in India with a net worth of $7.2 billion as of record in October 2019. He has donated 2.2 billion to Azim Premji Foundation for the education field in India.
He has spent more than 21$ billion on the welfare of the public in the healthcare and education field.
2. Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett is an American investor, businessman, and one of the greatest philanthropists who was born in Omaha, Nebraska, the US on 30th August 1930.
He joined the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Later in 1947, he transferred and completed his graduation from the University of Nebraska at the age of 19.
He went to Columbia Business School for graduation where he learns about investment philosophy and he also attends the New York Institute of Finance to focus his economics background.
Buffett started Buffett Partnership Ltd in 1956 and started his investing career. Buffett has been the largest shareholder and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway.
He invests his money in many companies from there he accumulated wealth and become the 4th richest person in the world with $88.9 billion net worth.
He is also one of the notable philanthropists in the world. Buffett donates 34$ billion in the field of healthcare, education, AIDS-Prevention, and Sanitation.
1. Bill Gates
Bill Gates is an American software developer, investor, Businessman, and Co-founder of Microsoft Corporation. Bill was born in Seattle, Washington, the USA on 28th October 1955.
Gates has served as the chairman, chief executive officer, president, and chief software architect of Microsoft Corporation.
Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft Corporation with his childhood friend Paul Allen in 1975 in Albuquerque, New Mexico which went to be the world’s largest personal computer software company.
He is considered as the great and best entrepreneur of the microcomputer revolution in the1970s and 1980s. He has been included in the Forbes list of the world’s richest people since 1987.
He was also been world richest person from 1995 to 2017.
He was also one of the greatest charitable people in the world. He has founded a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the charitable work all over the world.
He is the greatest philanthropists in the world. Bill has donated $ 35.8 billion for the welfare of the people all around the world in healthcare, extreme poverty, education, and access to the information technology field.
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Final Words
So that it guys. We hope you know about the top 10 philanthropists in the world after reading this article completely. These people help many poor people all around the world.
These philanthropists also donate to people who are affected by some of the natural calamities. Thanks for patiently reading this article and don’t forget to comment down your favourite person from the list.
