A new Forbes report has spotlighted America’s most generous philanthropists, and Elon Musk and Google co-founder Larry Page are notably missing from the top 25 list.
Despite having a combined net worth of over $1 trillion, both have given away just a sliver of their fortunes.
According to Forbes, Musk has donated only 0.06% of his wealth to charitable causes, while Page has given just 0.03%.
Massive Wealth, Minimal Giving
Musk, the world’s richest man, and Page, who ranks just behind him, have faced increasing scrutiny over how little of their fortunes have actually been disbursed to charity.
The Forbes list excludes donor-advised funds and pledged-but-unpaid gifts. It only counts real dollars sent to nonprofits. By those standards, Musk and Page didn’t even come close to making the cut.
In stark contrast, MacKenzie Scott gave more in 2025 alone than Musk, Page, Ellison, and her ex‑husband Bezos, have given in their lifetimes as measured by dollars that have actually been disbursed to charities under Forbes’ criteria.
Scott gave away $7.2 billion last year and has donated $26.4 billion in total since 2019. That makes her the third-most generous philanthropist in U.S. history.
MacKenzie Scott’s Record-Breaking Year
Scott, who received a large share of Amazon stock after her divorce from Bezos, has already given away over 75% of it.
She gave to 186 organizations last year, including $760 million to 18 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Her approach is famously low-key and unrestricted.
“Unrestricted funds of this size are beyond the ordinary,” a spokesperson for Howard University, which received $80 million, told Forbes.
The school learned about the donation through an email from Scott’s nonprofit, Yield Giving.
Scott’s giving style contrasts sharply with that of billionaires who set up large foundations but delay spending. Her donations are fast, often surprise recipients, and come with no strings attached.
Top Givers Are Women and Non-Founders
Forbes also noted a pattern: women and those who didn’t create their own fortunes tend to give more, and faster.
Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change, said these donors often feel less personal attachment to the money and are more willing to take bold steps in philanthropy.
Six of the top 25 givers are solo women. Eleven more are couples or former couples.
By contrast, Musk and Page have yet to cross even the 10% mark that 17 of the top 25 donors have exceeded.
Only one of the top 12 richest people in America, Warren Buffett, has passed that threshold.
The Most Generous Philanthropists
Warren Buffett remains America’s most generous donor with $68.3 billion in lifetime giving, followed by Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates at $52.6 billion. Scott is third with $26.4 billion.
Buffett, now retired from his role at Berkshire Hathaway, donated $6 billion to the Gates Foundation and four family foundations last year, plus another $1.3 billion in November.
Gates and French Gates, though divorced, are still counted together for their past joint giving. Melinda now runs her own philanthropic arm, Pivotal, which focuses on women and girls.
Other notable names include Michael Bloomberg, who gave $25.4 billion, and George Soros, who gave away 76% of his $7.5 billion net worth.
Bloomberg focused on climate and education, while Soros’ Open Society Foundations supported democracy and human rights worldwide.
Not Just Big Numbers
The top 25 philanthropists have donated $275 billion in total, up $34 billion from last year.
However, that still represents only 14% of their combined net worths, the lowest percentage since 2021.
Forbes made it clear: this list is about real giving. No credit for money sitting in foundations. No extra points for vague pledges. It’s a measure of who’s actually parting with their money.
And by that measure, the world’s richest man and one of Silicon Valley’s most powerful founders aren’t even close.