Pledge Aside, Dead Billionaires Don't Have to Give Away Half Their Fortune
Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. chairman and chief executive officer, right, talks with Bill Gates, billionaire and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as they tour the exhibition floor during the Berkshire Hathaway Inc. annual shareholders meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., on Saturday, May 2, 2015. More than 40,000 people are expected Saturday at the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, which marks Warren Buffett's 50th year running the company. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Warren Buffett; Bill Gates
(Corrects timing of Al Ueltschi’s pledge in 13th paragraph and potential size of fortune in 19th paragraph in story originally published on June 4. Adds details on HelpMeSee and language about fulfilling the pledge in ‘Tax Planning’ section.)
In the five years since Bill Gates and Warren Buffett created the Giving Pledge, 193 individuals have made the simple promise to give more than half of their fortune away in life or in death. This week, another 16 people joined the initiative, including Chobani yogurt founder Hamdi Ulukaya and Scottish oil baron Ian Wood.