The better people feel about their own finances, the more likely they'll donate to charity, whether it's in response to a global disaster or an organization with the right cause. So, you can imagine what that means for the wealthy -- and the famous -- who often start their own charitible foundations.
The world's most wealthiest man, Bill Gates, and his wife, Melinda, formed the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation with hopes of eradicating many global disesases. In June 2006, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, the second most wealthiest man in the world, pledged approximately 10 million Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares to the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation, a gift worth about $30 billion at the time.
Actors, musicians, sports figures and other pop culture notables have also made charity causes their number one mission. Billionaire talkshow host and entrepreneur Oprah Winfrey recently established the first of many planned Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, investing $40 million in thie project.
Here are some notable philanthropists and their respective causes.
