I came across this article from 2010 and I was curious to read it in full.

Many have heard of some multi billionaires including some of the wealthiest men in the world giving away at least half of their fortune but I never knew just how many of them were involved.

It is also quite interesting to know that many of these personalities in spite of their massive give-aways, still remain on top of the world’s richest list. Warren Buffet was ranked third richest and Bill Gates the Miscrosoft CEO top of the world’s richest. But after giving away 99% of his wealth and the Gates more than $28billion (£17.6bn) of their fortune, the two names still remain in the top three of the list.

These mega rich men seem to have identified and tapped into the Biblical secret and benefit of giving.

“Give and it shall be given back to you in god measure. Pressed down, shalen together and running over”

“Cast your bread over many waters and after many days, you will find it again”

I believe that me all should borrow a leaf from these mightily blessed men.

Please read article

Thirty-four U.S. billionaires have today pledged to give away at least 50 per cent of their wealth to charity as part of a campaign by investor Warren Buffett and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Among the billionaires joining the campaign are New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, entertainment executive Barry Diller, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, energy tycoon T. Boone Pickens, media mogul Ted Turner, banker David Rockefeller and investor Ronald Perelman.

The Giving Pledge was started in June by Mr Gates, whose $53billion (£33.3bn) fortune places him second on the Forbes magazine list of the world’s richest people, and Mr Buffett, who ranks third on the list.

Campaign starters: Billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, right, are inviting others to join The Giving Pledge

‘We’ve really just started but already we’ve had a terrific response,’ Mr Buffett said in a statement.

‘The Giving Pledge is about asking wealthy families to have important conversations about their wealth and how it will be used.

The full list of billionaires and their letters can be seen at http://www.thegivingpledge.org.

The Giving Pledge does not accept any money but asks billionaires to make a moral commitment to give away their wealth to charity.

Mr Bloomberg wrote in his Giving Pledge letter: ‘I am enthusiastically taking the Giving Pledge, and nearly all of my net worth will be given away in the years ahead or left to my foundation.

‘Making a difference in people’s lives – and seeing it with your own eyes –  is perhaps the most satisfying thing you’ll ever do.’

The billionaires announcing their pledge today join real estate and construction billionaire Eli Broad, venture capitalist John Doerr, media entrepreneur Gerry Lenfest and former Cisco Systems chairman John Morgridge who have already committed to giving away most of their wealth.

Mr Buffett, who made his fortune with insurance and investment company Berkshire Hathaway Inc, Mr Gates and his wife, Melinda, held several dinners with a couple of dozen rich Americans in the past year to urge them to make the pledge.

Mr Buffett pledged in 2006 to give away 99 per cent of his wealth to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and family charities.

Bill and Melinda Gates have so far donated more than $28billion (£17.6bn) of their fortune to their foundation.

Since the foundation began in 1994, it has given away more than $22billion (£13.8bn) for health improvements in poor countries and to improve access for Americans to opportunities they need to succeed in school and life.

‘I’ve long stated that I enjoy making money, and I enjoy giving it away,’ Mr Pickens said in his Giving Pledge letter. ‘I’m not a big fan of inherited wealth. It generally does more harm than good.’

Forbes said the U.S. is home to 403 billionaires, the most in the world.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1300336/34-billionaires-away-half-wealth.html#ixzz3m2jydv40