34 US Billionaires Pledge Half Their Money to Charity

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have convinced 34 more billionaires to sign onto their “Giving Pledge” initiative, promising to give away at least half their money to charity. The list includes the likes of Michael Bloomberg, Ted Turner, Barry Diller, Larry Ellison, and T. Boone Pickens, Reuters reports. “I am enthusiastically taking the Giving Pledge,” Bloomberg said in a letter. “Nearly all of my net worth will be given away in the years ahead.”

Bloomberg isn’t alone in his magnanimity. Buffett, who has promised to give away 99% of his wealth, said he was delighted to see that many had decided to give above and beyond the 50% minimum. “We’ve really just started, but already we’ve had a terrific response,” he said. You can see the full list of donors at givingpledge.org. (More Giving Pledge stories.)