Facebook Founders Pledge To Give Away Most Of Their Assets

December 9th, 2010

Why wait until you’re dead to make your mark on the world?

Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz are the latest billionaires to sign on to “The Giving Pledge.” They’re part of a growing number of wealthy individuals choosing to get involved in philanthropy while they’re still young.
The Giving Pledge was thought up by Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, who are on a joint mission to get other billionaires to donate the majority of their wealth to charity before they die.
Internet and technology billionaires like Gates and Zuckerberg have a special motivation to give – they’ve already built their wealth by trying to change the world.

More than 50 billionaires have signed onto the pledge so far
In 2008, donations in the U.S. totaled $315 billion; in 2009, that number fell to $303.75 billion
Zuckerberg recently pledged $100 million in donations to Newark public schools

“Wealth is an advantage, but it also is frankly a responsibility.” – Nicolas Berggruen, Investor, recently signed on to The Giving Pledge