Warren Buffett donated roughly $4.6 billion of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. shares to five charities including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of an annual pledge the billionaire made nearly two decades ago.
The 13.7 million Class B shares were donated to five philanthropies, including one named for his late wife and several run by his children, according to a statement. Buffett's stake in Berkshire now consists of 218,287 Class A shares and 344 Class B shares.
"The five foundations have received Berkshire B shares that had a value when received of about $50 billion, substantially more than my entire net worth in 2006," Buffett said, referring to the year he first made the pledge. "I have no debts and my remaining A shares are worth about $112 billion, well over 99% of my net worth."
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