Warren Buffett announced his plan to give away 99% of his fortune in 2006.
In June 2006, Buffett announced that he would gradually donate the overwhelming majority of his wealth to philanthropic causes. The largest portion was designated for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, while other gifts went to foundations connected with his family. Much of the donation was made in Berkshire Hathaway shares rather than cash.
The announcement initially described a gift equivalent to about 85% of Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway holdings. Because those shares represented most of his personal wealth, Buffett later described the broader commitment as giving more than 99% of his net worth to philanthropy. The donations were structured as annual transfers, beginning in July 2006.
This date is often confused with 2010, when Buffett, Bill Gates, and Melinda French Gates launched the Giving Pledge. The Giving Pledge asks billionaires to commit at least half of their wealth to charity; Buffett’s personal 99% plan was announced four years earlier.