List of famous philanthropists with their biographies that include trivia, interesting facts, timeline and life history.

Famous Philanthropists

Philanthropists are the individuals who strive to contribute to the well-being of humankind through their efforts, time and money. They are actively involved in promoting human welfare, and usually strive to achieve this by making generous donation of money to worthy causes. Philanthropy is often associated with the wealthy as they have more resources to donate, but not everyone who is wealthy is engaged in philanthropy! One of the best known philanthropists of our time is Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates who along with his wife Melinda is a co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Equally well known for his philanthropy is American industrialist and investor Warren Buffet who has pledged to give away 99 percent of his fortune to philanthropic causes. Li Ka-shing and George Soros are also noted philanthropists. Several of the modern day philanthropists cite the Scottish-American industrialist Andrew Carnegie as their inspiration—Carnegie gave away almost 90 percent of his fortune to charities, foundations, and universities. He is also credited to have urged the other wealthy people to use their fortunes to help improve society. Read on to discover about the life and works of various famous philanthropists from all over the world.
Priyanka ChopraPriyanka Chopra
(Actress)

18 July 1982

Indian

LeBron JamesLeBron James
(NBA Star)

30 December 1984

American

Jeff BezosJeff Bezos
(Founder of Amazon.com)

12 January 1964

American

Selena GomezSelena Gomez
(Actress)

22 July 1992

American

Anne HathawayAnne Hathaway
(Actress)

12 November 1982

American

Nicolas CageNicolas Cage
(Actor, Producer)

07 January 1964

American

Warren BuffettWarren Buffett
(Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist)

30 August 1930

American

Kevin CostnerKevin Costner
(Actor)

18 January 1955

American

Magic JohnsonMagic Johnson
(Basketball player)

14 August 1959

American

Stevie NicksStevie Nicks

26 May 1948

American

Paul McCartneyPaul McCartney
(Singer-songwriter)

18 June 1942

British

Roger FedererRoger Federer
(Tennis Star)

08 August 1981

Swiss

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Marlon BrandoMarlon Brando
(Actor)

03 April 1924

American

Mel GibsonMel Gibson
(Actor)

03 January 1956

American

Harrison FordHarrison Ford
(American actor)

13 July 1942

American

Bruno MarsBruno Mars
(Singer-songwriter)

08 October 1985

American

Demi LovatoDemi Lovato
(Singer, Songwriter, Actress)

20 August 1992

American

Quincy JonesQuincy Jones
(Musician, Conductor, Producer, Arranger, Composer, Film Composer)

14 March 1933

American

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Dr. DreDr. Dre
(American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur)

18 February 1965

American

Barbra StreisandBarbra Streisand
(American singer-songwriter)

24 April 1942

American

ShakiraShakira
(Singer)

02 February 1977

Colombian

Colin FarrellColin Farrell
(Actor)

31 May 1976

Irish

Richard GereRichard Gere
(Actor & Activist)

31 August 1949

American

Mariska HargitayMariska Hargitay
(Actress)

23 January 1964

American

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Roger MooreRoger Moore
(Actor)

14 October 1927

British

George StraitGeorge Strait
(American singer)

18 May 1952

American

Joan CollinsJoan Collins
(Actress & Author)

23 May 1933

British

Sophia BushSophia Bush
(Actress)

08 July 1982

American

Steven SeagalSteven Seagal
(Actor & Martial Artist)

10 April 1952

American

The WeekndThe Weeknd
(Singer)

16 February 1990

Canadian

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Jaggi VasudevJaggi Vasudev
(Yoga Guru)

03 September 1957

Indian

James CordenJames Corden
(Actor)

22 August 1978

British

George SorosGeorge Soros
(Investor, Philanthropist)

12 August 1930

Hungarian,American

Enrique IglesiasEnrique Iglesias
(Singer)

08 May 1975

Spanish

Bernard ArnaultBernard Arnault
(Chairman & CEO of LMVH)

05 March 1949

French

Tina FeyTina Fey
(American actress)

18 May 1970

American

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AnnaSophia RobbAnnaSophia Robb
(Actress)

08 December 1993

American

Nita AmbaniNita Ambani
(Chairperson of Reliance Foundation)

01 November 1963

Indian

George LucasGeorge Lucas
(Film Director)

14 May 1944

American

Robert KraftRobert Kraft
(Business Tycoon)

05 June 1941

American

Richard AttenboroughRichard Attenborough
(Actor, Director, Producer)

29 August 1923

British

Cat StevensCat Stevens
(Singer-songwriter)

21 July 1948

British

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Ashley JuddAshley Judd
(Actress and Activist)

19 April 1968

American

Gregory PeckGregory Peck

05 April 1916

American

Robert DuvallRobert Duvall
(Actor, Director)

05 January 1931

American

Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II
(The 264th Pope (Bishop of Rome))

18 May 1920

Polish

Jet LiJet Li
(Actor, Martial Artist)

26 April 1963

Singaporean

Jimmy PageJimmy Page
(Musician)

09 January 1944

British

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Hugh HefnerHugh Hefner
(Founder of Playboy Magazine)

09 April 1926

American

Jane SeymourJane Seymour

15 February 1951

British

Michael BloombergMichael Bloomberg
(Mayor of New York City)

14 February 1942

American

Cindy CrawfordCindy Crawford

20 February 1966

American

Azim PremjiAzim Premji
(Business Tycoon)

24 July 1945

Indian

Julian LennonJulian Lennon

08 April 1963

British

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Jon Bon JoviJon Bon Jovi

02 March 1962

American

Andrew CarnegieAndrew Carnegie
(Industrialist, Businessman, Entrepreneur and a major Philanthropist.)

25 November 1835

American,Scottish

Carlos SlimCarlos Slim
(Entrepreneur)

28 January 1940

Mexican

Larry EllisonLarry Ellison
(Founder of Oracle)

17 August 1944

American

Joe NamathJoe Namath
(American Football Quarterback)

31 May 1943

American

Billy GrahamBilly Graham
(Evangelist)

07 November 1918

American

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Jerry LewisJerry Lewis
(Comedian, Actor, Singer, Film Director)

16 March 1926

American

Steve BallmerSteve Ballmer
(Former CEO of Microsoft)

24 March 1956

American

Joel OsteenJoel Osteen
(American Preacher & Televangelist)

05 March 1963

American

Patti SmithPatti Smith
(Singer)

30 December 1946

American

Carlos SantanaCarlos Santana

20 July 1947

American

Edmund HillaryEdmund Hillary
(First person to climb Mt. Everest)

20 July 1919

New Zealander

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Annie LennoxAnnie Lennox
(Singer-songwriter)

25 December 1954

Scottish

Kate MossKate Moss
(Supermodel)

16 January 1974

British

Joan RiversJoan Rivers
(Actress)

08 June 1933

American

Chris GardnerChris Gardner
(Entrepreneur)

09 February 1954

American

Ralph LaurenRalph Lauren
(Fashion Designer)

14 October 1939

American

Amy LeeAmy Lee
(American singer-songwriter)

13 December 1981

American

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Phil KnightPhil Knight
(Co-founder of Nike, Inc.)

24 February 1938

American

Camilla Parker BowlesCamilla Parker Bowles
(British duchess)

17 July 1947

British

Laurene Powell JobsLaurene Powell Jobs
(Businesswoman, Widow of Steve Jobs)

06 November 1963

American

Mo FarahMo Farah
(Athlete)

23 March 1983

British

Serj TankianSerj Tankian
(Singer-songwriter)

21 August 1967

Lebanese,American

Ishwar Chandra VidyasagarIshwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(Social Reformer, Philosopher)

26 September 1820

Indian

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Aga Khan IVAga Khan IV
(Imam of Nizari Ismailism)

13 December 1936

British

Juliette BinocheJuliette Binoche
(Actress)

09 March 1964

French

Anne BuydensAnne Buydens
(Actress)

23 April 1919

German

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