Bill & Melinda Gates
Special Report Philanthropy 2004
Top Givers
No. 1 givers Bill and Melinda Gates,
the world's largest international
donors, made history this
year by giving their estimated $3
billion Microsoft Corp. dividend
to their foundation. It's one of
the largest donations in history
by a living donor. To put it into
perspective, that one gift is three
times bigger than the amount
that America's richest family,
the descendants of Wal-Mart
Stores Inc. founder Sam Walton,
has given during their entire lifetimes,
according to our ranking.
