Slate magazine published its list of 60 biggest philanthropists in the US in 2006. Warren Buffet leads the pack having pledged $43.5bn - an amount equal to the GDP of Slovakia or the market value of McDonalds…food for thought.
Charitable giving is also gaining momentum in the UK as more of the wealthy view themselves as "new philanthropists" and look to direct large chunks of their fortunes to worthy causes before they die. In the Sunday Times Rich List published in April 2007, The "Billion Pound Giveaway" giving index saw David and Heather Stevens (David is founder of Admiral - the insurer) top the UK list with donations over the past year equivalent to 87% of their combined wealth. In July 2007, Sir Tom Hunter, Scotland's richest man pledged to donate €1bn to charities in the UK and Africa over the next 10 years.