Billionaires pledge to give it away

2010-08-05 03:12:46 GMT2010-08-05 11:12:46 (Beijing Time) SINA.com

Persuaded by the prodding of investor Warren Buffett and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, several dozen U.S. billionaires pledged to give away at least 50 percent of their wealth to charity.

Among the billionaires joining the campaign are New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, energy tycoon T. Boone Pickens and media mogul Ted Turner.

Gates, the world's second richest man, and Buffett, the 3rd richest, launched "The Giving Pledge" in June to convince hundreds of U.S. billionaires to give away most of their fortune either during their lifetime or after their death.

Bill and Melinda Gates have so far given more than $28 billion of of their fortune to their foundation.

According to Forbes Magazine, the United States is home to 403 billionaires, the most of any country.

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