> Skip to content
FEATURED:
  • An Update for Readers on Our New Nonprofit Status
Sign In
  • Latest
  • Advice
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Data
  • Grants
  • Magazine
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
Sign In
  • Latest
  • Advice
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Data
  • Grants
  • Magazine
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
  • Latest
  • Advice
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Data
  • Grants
  • Magazine
  • Store
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
    • Featured Products
    • Data
    • Reports
    • Collections
    • Back Issues
    • Webinars
  • Jobs
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
    • Find a Job
    • Post a Job
Sign In
ADVERTISEMENT
News
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Show more sharing options
Share
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Copy Link URLCopied!
  • Print

Gates and Li Ka Shing Top List of Big Foundations Created by Wealthy People

By  Maria Di Mento
July 31, 2015
Li Ka-shing’s foundation has $8.1 billion in assets.
Bobby Yip/Reuters/Newscom
Li Ka-shing’s foundation has $8.1 billion in assets.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation tops a new list of the world’s 10 largest private foundations, according to a new study of philanthropies led by ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

To qualify for an ultra-high-net-worth designation, an individual must have investable assets of at least $30 million, excluding their personal assets and property (such as a primary residence).

The Gates foundation’s assets currently stand at $43.5 billion, according to The Chronicle’s recent report on U.S. foundations.

We’re sorry. Something went wrong.

We are unable to fully display the content of this page.

The most likely cause of this is a content blocker on your computer or network. Please make sure your computer, VPN, or network allows javascript and allows content to be delivered from v144.philanthropy.com and chronicle.blueconic.net.

Once javascript and access to those URLs are allowed, please refresh this page. You may then be asked to log in, create an account if you don't already have one, or subscribe.

If you continue to experience issues, contact us at 202-466-1032 or help@chronicle.com

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation tops a new list of the world’s 10 largest private foundations, according to a new study of philanthropies led by ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

To qualify for an ultra-high-net-worth designation, an individual must have investable assets of at least $30 million, excluding their personal assets and property (such as a primary residence).

The Gates foundation’s assets currently stand at $43.5 billion, according to The Chronicle’s recent report on U.S. foundations.

Mr. Gates’s net worth is an estimated $85.7 billion, according to a report by Wealth-X, which produced the list of the world’s richest foundations and provides information on the wealthy to financial-services companies, nonprofits, and other organizations.

Next on the list is the Li Ka Shing Foundation, with $8.1 billion in assets. Mr. Li is a billionaire investor in Hong Kong who is chairman of Hutchison Whampoa, an international technology company. His personal wealth is $22.1 billion, according to Wealth-X.

ADVERTISEMENT

$560 Billion in Assets

Taken together, the foundations on the list have assets of $83.1 billion, or the equivalent of 29.7 percent of the combined net worth of the philanthropists who established them, the report says.

The study says more than 5,000 private foundations have been started by ultra-high-net-worth people around the globe. Collectively, these philanthropies have assets of $560 billion, and in the past year, they have given out a total of $45 billion, or about 8 percent of their total assets, according to the study.

Others on the list include the Carlos Slim Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, among others.

We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
Foundation GivingFundraising from IndividualsMajor-Gift Fundraising
Maria Di Mento
Maria directs the annual Philanthropy 50, a comprehensive report on America’s most generous donors. She writes about wealthy philanthropists, arts organizations, key trends and insights related to high-net-worth donors, and other topics.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Explore
    • Latest Articles
    • Get Newsletters
    • Advice
    • Webinars
    • Data & Research
    • Magazine
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
    Explore
    • Latest Articles
    • Get Newsletters
    • Advice
    • Webinars
    • Data & Research
    • Magazine
    • Chronicle Store
    • Find a Job
  • The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Work at the Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Gift-Acceptance Policy
    • Site Map
    • DEI Commitment Statement
    The Chronicle
    • About Us
    • Work at the Chronicle
    • User Agreement
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Gift-Acceptance Policy
    • Site Map
    • DEI Commitment Statement
  • Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
    Customer Assistance
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Post a Job
    • Reprints & Permissions
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Organizational Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
    Subscribe
    • Individual Subscriptions
    • Organizational Subscriptions
    • Subscription & Account FAQ
    • Manage Newsletters
    • Manage Your Account
1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037
© 2023 The Chronicle of Philanthropy
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • pinterest
  • facebook
  • linkedin