Michael Bloomberg Tops Philanthropy 50 List for Third Straight Year

Former NYC mayor gave $4.3 billion to charity in 2025, leading a group that donated $22.4 billion total.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 6:21pm

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For the third consecutive year, Michael Bloomberg landed the No. 1 spot on the Chronicle of Philanthropy's exclusive ranking of the 50 biggest donors of 2025. The founder of the Bloomberg financial-news empire and former New York mayor gave $4.3 billion to support arts, education, the environment, public health, and programs to improve city governments.

Why it matters

Bloomberg's continued philanthropic leadership highlights the outsized impact that the ultra-wealthy can have on charitable causes, though the list also features lesser-known donors who are making significant contributions to their local communities and areas of personal passion.

The details

Bloomberg is followed on the Philanthropy 50 list by three other donors who each gave $1 billion or more to charity last year, including Bill Gates, the late Paul Allen, and Warren Buffett. Together, the 50 donors contributed a total of $22.4 billion to charity in 2025, with the financial industry, technology, and real estate being the primary sources of their wealth.

  • The Chronicle of Philanthropy published its Philanthropy 50 list for 2025 on March 10, 2026.

The players

Michael Bloomberg

The founder of the Bloomberg financial-news empire and former mayor of New York City.

Bill Gates

Co-founder of Microsoft and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Paul Allen

Co-founder of Microsoft and founder of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

Warren Buffett

Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and renowned philanthropist.

Jon and Mindy Gray

Philanthropists who primarily support research on inherited cancers and empower young people in New York City.

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What they’re saying

“We're very hands-on people — we enjoy it. Other people often come to us and say, 'I want to do something, but what should I do?' And it really is what you feel in your heart. You should not be doing this work in areas that don't move you.”

— Mindy Gray

The takeaway

The Philanthropy 50 list highlights the immense impact that the ultra-wealthy can have on charitable causes, but also showcases lesser-known donors who are making significant contributions to their local communities and areas of personal passion, demonstrating that philanthropy can take many forms and come from diverse sources.