▲She left all her assets (around US$5 billion) to the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. The charity works in conservation and healthcare.

▲The biggest donation of 2010 was from an anonymous person. They donated US$200 million to Baylor University, where they graduated.

▲Stanley is the founder of Duquesne Capital Management, as well as the Druckenmiller Foundation. Along with his wife Fiona, Stanley made the biggest donation of 2009.

▲They donated a combined amount of US$705 million to their foundation, which works in fields like medical research and ending poverty.

▲The largest donation of 2011 came from William S. Dietrich II, who donated US$265 million to Carnegie Mellon University.

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The money is intended to go towards medical research in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Social Work, as well as other programs at the university.

▲One of the most well-known billionaires in the world, Warren Buffett made three huge donations in 2012.

▲He donated stocks worth over US$1 billion to three charitable organizations that are run by his children.

▲Dietrich, the former chairman of Dietrich Industries, also donated US$125 million to the University of Pittsburgh in 2011.

▲Wilson was the owner of NFL team the Buffalo Bills.

▲He donated 18 million shares of Facebook twice, with a combined value of around US$992 million.

▲Upon his death, Wilson (left) donated US$1 billion to the Ralph Wilson Foundation, which invests money in various organizations and communities.

▲Knight is known as the co-founder of Nike. In 2016, along with his wife Penelope, he donated half a billion dollars to the University of Oregon, to be paid over a 10-year payment plan.

▲When he died in December 2014, Santikos donated approximately US$605 million to the San Antonio Area Foundation, which went towards founding the John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation.

▲In 2016, Nicolas Berggruen, founder and president of Berggruen Holdings, pledged US$500 million to the Berggruen Institute in Los Angeles.

▲Also known as the Queen of Mean, this businesswoman left a large donation in her will. She passed away in 2007.

▲The CEO of Facebook made two huge donations to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation in 2011 and 2012.

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Santikos was best known as the head of Santikos Theatres, which was founded by his father, Louis Santikos.

(Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

▲Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, made a joint donation of stock to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative in 2017.

▲A list like this wouldn't be complete without Bill Gates, who made history with his wife Melinda in 2000.

▲Brothers Ronnie and Gerald Chan are Hong Kong-based real estate tycoons, who both made huge contributions to Harvard University.

▲The donation was worth around US$1.9 billion, and went towards efforts to create equal opportunity in health, education, and scientific research.

▲Nick Woodman made a killing off GoPro, the camera company he founded. Like Zuckerberg, Woodman made a hefty donation to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

▲The Microsoft founder also founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, donating around US$28 billion towards the organization.

▲It's reported that Griffin donated US$150 million to the university in order to assist the financial aid program.

▲In 2014, the pair pledged US$350 million, one of the largest donations ever made to the university.

▲CEO of investment firm Citadel, Kenneth Griffin is one rich man. Back in 2014, he made a huge donation to Harvard University.

▲In 2014, he donated US$500 billion to the organization, with his philanthropy efforts being recognized at the San Francisco Gala.

▲Ross is a revered real estate developer, and majority owner of the NFL's Miami Dolphins.

▲In 2013, he donated US$200 million to the construction of the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus Athletics South Competition and Performance Project.

▲The famed basketball star announced that his company Jordan Brand has committed to donating US$100 million over the next 10 years to organizations dedicated to ensuring racial equality and social justice.

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This donation comes in the wake of worldwide protests sparked by the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. Jordan said in a statement: “Until the ingrained racism that allows our country’s institutions to fail is completely eradicated, we will remain committed to protecting and improving the lives of Black people.”

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Netflix's co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings along with his wife Patty Quillin recently announced they are committing US$120 million "to the United Negro College Fund and two historically Black colleges as part of the fight for racial justice spurred by the killing of George Floyd."

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Money: it's a gas. It makes the world turn, yet it can be very hard to come by, and it's especially lacking in vital social and humanitarian sectors like schools, health, social justice, and various other organizations working for a better world.

So when the world's wealthiest business people feel their charitable duty kick in, their multi-million contributions go down in history. Click through this gallery and see the biggest donations, and donors, of recent times.