Accessibility links
Buffett Promises Fortune to Gates Foundation Warren Buffett, the investment guru known as the Oracle of Omaha, now has another title: most generous philanthropist in history. Buffett has pledged to give away $37 billion, with most of it going to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Special Series

Buffett Promises Fortune to Gates Foundation

Buffett has pledged to give away $37 billion, with most of it going to the Gates Foundation.

Gates' Goal Shows High Hopes for Global Health

Bill Gates surprised even his closest advisers when he said his dream is to eliminate the world's top 20 diseases in his lifetime. Gates-watchers say it's not naïve over-reaching. The Gateses have an optimistic belief in technology and management that, combined with their resources, could make a difference.

Gates' Goal Shows High Hopes for Global Health

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5516257/5516258" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Gates Aims for Major Philanthropic Impact

The Gates Foundation is the nation's largest charitable foundation. It focuses its work on public health issues in developing countries. It has long been clear that Bill Gates wanted to have the same kind of impact in philanthropy that he has had in software.

Gates Aims for Major Philanthropic Impact

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5514403/5514404" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Buffett Finds Business Success in Timeless Formula

Warren Buffett doesn't use e-mail. He shies away from technology stocks. He has made billions of dollars by buying companies he likes, and then leaving them alone to do their business. This minimalist approach has made Buffett the world's second richest man.

Buffett Finds Business Success in Timeless Formula

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5514397/5514398" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

More Buffett Money Likely Headed to Pro-Choice Groups

Billionaire Warren Buffett will give part of his fortune to a foundation set up in his late wife's name, the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation. The foundation, which gives money to pro-choice organizations and projects, has had a small budget. People on both sides of the abortion debate are wondering what effect the new money will have.

More Buffett Money Likely Headed to Pro-Choice Groups

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5514406/5514407" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Buffett Gift Sends $31 Billion to Gates Foundation

Warren Buffett, billionaire investor and founder of Berkshire Hathaway, has announced he is donating much of his fortune to charity. Over time, most of Buffett's $44 billion in stock holdings will be given to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Buffett Gift Sends $31 Billion to Gates Foundation

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5512893/5512894" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Gates Foundation's Work Targets Global Health

Thanks to the pledge of $31 billion in stock from investment guru Warren Buffett, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will soon have far more resources to use in its work to fight diseases around the world. The foundation, which gave out about $1.35 billion in 2005, has had its greatest successes in global health.

Gates Foundation's Work Targets Global Health

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5512899/5512900" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Joining with Gates, Buffett Targets World's Ills

Warren Buffett's pledge of $31 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been long in the making, according to friends of the astute investor from Nebraska. Fortune magazine's Carol J. Loomis says Buffett told her months ago about his plan.

Joining with Gates, Buffett Targets World's Ills

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5512896/5512897" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Marketplace Report: Will Buffett Spark a Trend?

Warren Buffett's decision to leave the bulk of his fortune to the Gates Foundation is dominating the headlines on Monday. Will his $37 billion distribution of his vast holdings of stock spark a trend? Madeleine Brand talks with Janet Babin of Marketplace.

Marketplace Report: Will Buffett Spark a Trend?

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5511749/5511750" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Warren Buffett and the Changing Face of Philanthropy

Warren Buffett's recent decision to give away about $36 billion of his fortune is unprecedented, and so is the fact that more than $30 billion goes to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Guests discuss what happens when private institutions grow bigger, wealthier and more powerful than public agencies.

Warren Buffett and the Changing Face of Philanthropy

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5512016/5512017" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Buffett Pledges Billions to Gates Foundation

Super stock-picker Warren Buffett pledges stock worth about $37 billion to charitable foundations, including more than $30 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Buffett biographer Roger Lowenstein discusses the move with Madeleine Brand.

Buffett Pledges Billions to Gates Foundation

Listen
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5511725/5511726" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Browse archive or search npr.org