America's Top Philanthropists Donated $22.4 Billion in 2025

America's top 50 philanthropists donated $22.4 billion to charity in 2025, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy's annual ranking. Michael Bloomberg led the Philanthropy 50 for the third consecutive year, contributing $4.3 billion towards arts, public health, and other initiatives.

MacKenzie Scott Excluded Despite Billions in Donations

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott was not included in the ranking despite announcing approximately $7.2 billion in donations to about 225 organizations over the past year. Since 2020, Scott has reportedly donated over $26 billion to nonprofits through her organization, Yield Giving.

Understanding the Exclusion: Donor-Advised Funds

Maria Di Mento, senior editor at the Chronicle, stated that Scott's exclusion was due to her representatives' refusal to confirm contributions to her donor-advised funds (DAFs).

The Philanthropy 50 includes donations to DAFs and foundations, but not disbursements from these funds, to prevent double counting, according to Di Mento.

A New Era of Private Philanthropy

Di Mento observed that ultra-wealthy philanthropists have become more private about their charitable contributions.

She attributed this trend to increased scrutiny faced by the ultra-wealthy and a rise in public resentment. Additionally, donors reportedly express concerns about being frequently approached by other organizations for funding after making public donations.