Only 9 of 256 Billionaire Pledge Signers Give Away Half Their Wealth in 15 Years

Fifteen years after Bill Gates and Warren Buffett launched the Giving Pledge—a voluntary initiative encouraging billionaires to donate at least half their wealth to philanthropy—only nine of the 256 signers have actually fulfilled the commitment, according to a report by the Institute for Policy Studies titled “The Giving Pledge at 15” [1]. The pledge, which invites the world’s wealthiest individuals to commit to giving to charity during their lifetimes or through their wills, remains largely unfulfilled, with most signatories significantly wealthier than when they joined [1].

The report notes that only one living U.S. signatory—Laura and John Arnold—has given away half their fortune. Among the 22 deceased U.S. signers, eight met the pledge before death, but only Chuck Feeney, the Irish-American philanthropist, gave away his entire fortune while still alive [1]. The pledge is a moral, not legal, commitment, allowing participants to choose their causes and methods of giving. The initiative was designed to inspire new norms of billionaire philanthropy and address pressing social challenges [1].

Data from the report reveals that the collective wealth of the original 57 U.S. signers in 2010 has increased by 283% since the pledge was launched, with only 11 no longer classified as billionaires—mainly due to market conditions, not philanthropy [1]. Most of the estimated $206 billion donated by original signers has gone into private foundations and donor-advised funds, with only a small fraction directly supporting operational charities. In 2023, 44 foundations linked to original pledgers held $120 billion in assets, but payout rates often fell far below the appreciated value of those assets [1].

The report highlights concerns about how wealth accumulation outpaces charitable giving, making the pledge increasingly difficult to fulfill. It also warns of a growing concentration of power in billionaire foundations, supported by favorable tax policies and slow payout rates, which could further entrench wealth and reduce public accountability [1].

To address these issues, the report recommends raising minimum payout requirements for foundations and donor-advised funds, ensuring quicker flows of money to working charities. It also calls for greater transparency and enforcement to prevent the misuse of charitable vehicles for personal or political gain, and for tax reforms to promote fairer treatment of large fortunes and reduce over-reliance on private philanthropy [1].

The report advocates a return to the model of “giving while living,” as exemplified by Chuck Feeney, to encourage more immediate and impactful giving. It stresses the need for systemic reforms to ensure that charitable donations serve the public interest rather than the tax or legacy interests of the ultra-wealthy [1].

The Giving Pledge has not yet responded to requests for comment on the findings [1].

Source: [1] Bill Gates and Warren Buffett’s Giving Pledge after 15 years (https://fortune.com/2025/08/07/bill-gates-warren-buffett-billionaire-giving-pledge-report-wealth-inequality/)