Billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett has made his most significant annual donation to date, giving away over $6 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway shares to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and four family-run charities. The generous gesture, announced on Friday, 27 June, marks a major milestonein Buffett’s ongoing commitment to philanthropy, which began nearly two decades ago.

Buffett, 94, donated a total of 12.36 million Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway, boosting his cumulative charitable contributions to well over $60 billion. Of this year's donation, 9.43 million shares went to the Gates Foundation, while 943,384 shares were allocated to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation. Additionally, 660,366 shares each were granted to foundations led by his children — the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Sherwood Foundation, and the NoVo Foundation.

The donation comes at a time when Buffett’s estimated net worth stood at $152 billion, according to Forbes, making him the world’s fifth-richest person before Friday’s giveaway. Following the donation, he is expected to move to sixth place. His most recent contribution surpasses the $5.3 billion he donated last June and follows a $1.14 billion gift to his children’s foundations in November.

Despite his generous philanthropy, Buffett still retains a 13.8 per cent stake in Berkshire Hathaway, based on current share data. He also reiterated in a statement that he has no intention of selling any of his Berkshire shares.

Buffett, who has helmed Omaha-based Berkshire since 1965, altered his will last year to ensure that 99.5 per cent of his remaining estate will go to a charitable trust after his passing. The trust, which will be managed by his three children—Susie (71), Howard (70), and Peter (67)—must unanimously decide on how the funds are allocated. They will have roughly ten years to complete the disbursement.

The recipient organisations reflect a broad spectrum of causes. The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, named after Buffett’s first wife, supports reproductive health initiatives. The Sherwood Foundation focuses on early childhood education and local nonprofit efforts in Nebraska.

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation works on tackling global hunger, human trafficking, and conflict mitigation. The NoVo Foundation centres its efforts on empowering marginalised girls, women, and indigenous communities.

Buffett, often referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha,” also clarified that his gifts to the Gates Foundation will cease upon his death. Berkshire Hathaway, valued at approximately $1.05 trillion, owns a vast array of businesses including Geico, BNSF Railway, and major holdings in Apple and American Express.

His latest act of generosity reaffirms his enduring belief in the power of philanthropy to create long-lasting change.