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Leona Helmsley - Also known as the Queen of Mean, this businesswoman left a large donation in her will. She passed away in 2007.
© Public Domain
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Leona Helmsley - She left all her assets (around US$5 billion) to the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. The charity works in conservation and healthcare.
© Getty Images
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Stanley F. and Fiona B. Druckenmiller - Stanley is the founder of Duquesne Capital Management, as well as the Druckenmiller Foundation. Along with his wife Fiona, Stanley made the biggest donation of 2009.
© Getty Images
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Stanley F. and Fiona B. Druckenmiller - They donated a combined amount of US$705 million to their foundation, which works in fields like medical research and ending poverty.
© Getty Images
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Warren Buffett - One of the most well-known billionaires in the world, Warren Buffett made three huge donations in 2012.
© Getty Images
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Warren Buffett - He donated stocks worth over US$1 billion to three charitable organizations that are run by his children.
© Getty Images
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William S. Dietrich II - The largest donation of 2011 came from William S. Dietrich II, who donated US$265 million to Carnegie Mellon University.
© iStock
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William S. Dietrich II - Dietrich, the former chairman of Dietrich Industries, also donated US$125 million to the University of Pittsburgh in 2011.
© iStock
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Mark Zuckerberg - The CEO of Facebook made two huge donations to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation in 2011 and 2012.
© Getty Images
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Mark Zuckerberg - He donated 18 million shares of Facebook twice, with a combined value of around US$992 million.
© Getty Images
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John Santikos
- Santikos was best known as the head of Santikos Theatres, which was founded by his father, Louis Santikos. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)
© Wikimedia/Creative Commons
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John Santikos - When he died in December 2014, Santikos donated approximately US$605 million to the San Antonio Area Foundation, which went towards founding the John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation.
© iStock
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Bill Gates - A list like this wouldn't be complete without Bill Gates, who made history with his wife Melinda in 2000.
© Getty Images
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Bill Gates - The Microsoft founder also founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, donating around US$28 billion towards the organization.
© Getty Images
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Ralph C. Wilson Jr. - Wilson was the owner of NFL team the Buffalo Bills.
© Getty Images
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Ralph C. Wilson Jr. - Upon his death, Wilson (left) donated US$1 billion to the Ralph Wilson Foundation, which invests money in various organizations and communities.
© Reuters
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Nick Woodman - Nick Woodman made a killing off GoPro, the camera company he founded. Like Zuckerberg, Woodman made a hefty donation to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
© Getty Images
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Nick Woodman - In 2014, he donated US$500 billion to the organization, with his philanthropy efforts being recognized at the San Francisco Gala.
© Getty Images
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Kenneth Griffin - CEO of investment firm Citadel, Kenneth Griffin is one rich man. Back in 2014, he made a huge donation to Harvard University.
© Getty Images
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Kenneth Griffin - It's reported that Griffin donated US$150 million to the university in order to assist the financial aid program.
© Getty Images
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Stephen M. Ross - Ross is a revered real estate developer, and majority owner of the NFL's Miami Dolphins.
© Getty Images
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Stephen M. Ross - In 2013, he donated US$200 million to the construction of the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus Athletics South Competition and Performance Project.
© Getty Images
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Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan - Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, made a joint donation of stock to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative in 2017.
© Getty Images
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Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan - The donation was worth around US$1.9 billion, and went towards efforts to create equal opportunity in health, education, and scientific research.
© Getty Images
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Philip and Penelope Knight - Knight is known as the co-founder of Nike. In 2016, along with his wife Penelope, he donated half a billion dollars to the University of Oregon, to be paid over a 10-year payment plan.
© Getty Images
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Nicolas Berggruen - In 2016, Nicolas Berggruen, founder and president of Berggruen Holdings, pledged US$500 million to the Berggruen Institute in Los Angeles.
© Getty Images
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Ronnie and Gerald Chan - Brothers Ronnie and Gerald Chan are Hong Kong-based real estate tycoons, who both made huge contributions to Harvard University.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
Ronnie and Gerald Chan - In 2014, the pair pledged US$350 million, one of the largest donations ever made to the university.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
Anonymous - The biggest donation of 2010 was from an anonymous person. They donated US$200 million to Baylor University, where they graduated.
© iStock
29 / 31 Fotos
Anonymous - The money is intended to go towards medical research in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Social Work, as well as other programs at the university.
© iStock
30 / 31 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
Leona Helmsley - Also known as the Queen of Mean, this businesswoman left a large donation in her will. She passed away in 2007.
© Public Domain
1 / 31 Fotos
Leona Helmsley - She left all her assets (around US$5 billion) to the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. The charity works in conservation and healthcare.
© Getty Images
2 / 31 Fotos
Stanley F. and Fiona B. Druckenmiller - Stanley is the founder of Duquesne Capital Management, as well as the Druckenmiller Foundation. Along with his wife Fiona, Stanley made the biggest donation of 2009.
© Getty Images
3 / 31 Fotos
Stanley F. and Fiona B. Druckenmiller - They donated a combined amount of US$705 million to their foundation, which works in fields like medical research and ending poverty.
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
Warren Buffett - One of the most well-known billionaires in the world, Warren Buffett made three huge donations in 2012.
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
Warren Buffett - He donated stocks worth over US$1 billion to three charitable organizations that are run by his children.
© Getty Images
6 / 31 Fotos
William S. Dietrich II - The largest donation of 2011 came from William S. Dietrich II, who donated US$265 million to Carnegie Mellon University.
© iStock
7 / 31 Fotos
William S. Dietrich II - Dietrich, the former chairman of Dietrich Industries, also donated US$125 million to the University of Pittsburgh in 2011.
© iStock
8 / 31 Fotos
Mark Zuckerberg - The CEO of Facebook made two huge donations to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation in 2011 and 2012.
© Getty Images
9 / 31 Fotos
Mark Zuckerberg - He donated 18 million shares of Facebook twice, with a combined value of around US$992 million.
© Getty Images
10 / 31 Fotos
John Santikos
- Santikos was best known as the head of Santikos Theatres, which was founded by his father, Louis Santikos. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)
© Wikimedia/Creative Commons
11 / 31 Fotos
John Santikos - When he died in December 2014, Santikos donated approximately US$605 million to the San Antonio Area Foundation, which went towards founding the John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation.
© iStock
12 / 31 Fotos
Bill Gates - A list like this wouldn't be complete without Bill Gates, who made history with his wife Melinda in 2000.
© Getty Images
13 / 31 Fotos
Bill Gates - The Microsoft founder also founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, donating around US$28 billion towards the organization.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. - Wilson was the owner of NFL team the Buffalo Bills.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. - Upon his death, Wilson (left) donated US$1 billion to the Ralph Wilson Foundation, which invests money in various organizations and communities.
© Reuters
16 / 31 Fotos
Nick Woodman - Nick Woodman made a killing off GoPro, the camera company he founded. Like Zuckerberg, Woodman made a hefty donation to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
Nick Woodman - In 2014, he donated US$500 billion to the organization, with his philanthropy efforts being recognized at the San Francisco Gala.
© Getty Images
18 / 31 Fotos
Kenneth Griffin - CEO of investment firm Citadel, Kenneth Griffin is one rich man. Back in 2014, he made a huge donation to Harvard University.
© Getty Images
19 / 31 Fotos
Kenneth Griffin - It's reported that Griffin donated US$150 million to the university in order to assist the financial aid program.
© Getty Images
20 / 31 Fotos
Stephen M. Ross - Ross is a revered real estate developer, and majority owner of the NFL's Miami Dolphins.
© Getty Images
21 / 31 Fotos
Stephen M. Ross - In 2013, he donated US$200 million to the construction of the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus Athletics South Competition and Performance Project.
© Getty Images
22 / 31 Fotos
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan - Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, made a joint donation of stock to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative in 2017.
© Getty Images
23 / 31 Fotos
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan - The donation was worth around US$1.9 billion, and went towards efforts to create equal opportunity in health, education, and scientific research.
© Getty Images
24 / 31 Fotos
Philip and Penelope Knight - Knight is known as the co-founder of Nike. In 2016, along with his wife Penelope, he donated half a billion dollars to the University of Oregon, to be paid over a 10-year payment plan.
© Getty Images
25 / 31 Fotos
Nicolas Berggruen - In 2016, Nicolas Berggruen, founder and president of Berggruen Holdings, pledged US$500 million to the Berggruen Institute in Los Angeles.
© Getty Images
26 / 31 Fotos
Ronnie and Gerald Chan - Brothers Ronnie and Gerald Chan are Hong Kong-based real estate tycoons, who both made huge contributions to Harvard University.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
Ronnie and Gerald Chan - In 2014, the pair pledged US$350 million, one of the largest donations ever made to the university.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
Anonymous - The biggest donation of 2010 was from an anonymous person. They donated US$200 million to Baylor University, where they graduated.
© iStock
29 / 31 Fotos
Anonymous - The money is intended to go towards medical research in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Social Work, as well as other programs at the university.
© iStock
30 / 31 Fotos
Charity cases: The biggest donations of recent times
Donations that changed lives forever
© Getty Images
Money: it's a gas. It makes the world turn, yet money can be hard to come by. So when a billionaire drops a multi-million dollar donation at your desk, you can't help but be grateful. Plenty of schools, organizations, and non-profits have been blessed with a big donation from a business person. Take a flick through this gallery and see the biggest donations, and donors, of recent times.
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