Elon Musk · Fortune Technology
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ everyday Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze
Compiled by KHAO Editorial — aggregated from 1 source. See llms.txt for citation guidance.
◌ Single Source
2025 brought a mixed picture for the U.S. economy.
Key facts
- About $394 billion, or 64%, of total contributions, came from individuals—up 1.4% when adjusted for inflation compared with the year prior
- In 2025 alone, the 56-year-old philanthropist and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos gave away $19.2 billion, accounting for roughly one-third of all megagifts tracked that year
- U.S. charitable giving reached a record $617.2 billion in 2025, according to a new report from Giving USA Foundation, researched and written by Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
- Foundation giving, which often reflects billionaire philanthropy, climbed nearly 3% to $117 billion
Summary
U.S. charitable giving reached a record $617.2 billion in 2025, according to a new report from Giving USA Foundation, researched and written by Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. About $394 billion, or 64%, of total contributions, came from individuals—up 1.4% when adjusted for inflation compared with the year prior. Overall, while charitable giving set a new high, it still lagged the explosive growth in billionaire wealth, which surged 16% in 2025. The rise in bequests in particular—the report’s fastest-growing category—suggests philanthropy may be entering a new era and mark the beginning of the long-anticipated Great Wealth Transfer.