Bill Gates

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates retains a net worth of around $160 billion despite decades of philanthropic giving through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Gates has donated over $60 billion to global health and education causes yet his diversified investment portfolio — managed through Cascade Investment — has kept pace, with significant positions in waste management, hospitality, and farmland across the US. His renewed focus on AI-driven healthcare diagnostics has made him a sought-after voice in global health policy. Whereas the average philanthropist gives away less than 5% of their wealth annually, Gates has donated over 37% of his peak net worth, and his foundation has saved 10 million lives since 2000.