Most Generous Celebrities
Fame often leads to fortune, and celebrity almost always implies a level of influence. Many celebrities use this influence to do good.
Some use their name recognition to raise funds for organizations and causes important to them. Others donate their time, possessions and/or money. Many do all of these.
While every charitable donation has value, each of these celebrities have spread millions among multiple organizations and causes.
Jon Bon Jovi
Net worth: $410 million
Source of wealth: Singer, musician, entrepreneur, producer
Funding areas: Poverty, homelessness, hunger, human rights, veterans, education, health
Bottom Line for Jon Bon Jovi
Singer and actor Bon Jovi is known for his philanthropy. In 2005, he donated $1 million to aid reconstruction efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. After Superstorm Sandy blew ashore New Jersey, he donated another $1 million to the New Jersey Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.
Through his Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, he has worked to assist those experiencing poverty and/or homelessness. The Foundation runs the JBJ Soul Kitchen restaurants, and in 2019, it donated $500,000 to help build houses for homeless veterans, as well as gave the proceeds from a new song to an organization that trains service dogs.
Barbra Streisand
Net worth: $400 million
Source of wealth: Singer, actress, filmmaker
Funding areas: Environment, women’s issues, civil rights, AIDs research, health, gun control, veterans
Bottom Line for Barbara Streisand
In 2007 alone, the singer and actress gave $11 million through the Streisand Foundation to organizations working for the environment, women’s issues, civil rights, and AIDs research and advocacy.
In 2012, she made a personal donation of $10 million for cardiovascular programs at Cedar’s Sinai, which is now called the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center.
Most recently, the foundation has given money to the Tulsa Race Massacre Identification Project.
Will and Jada Pinkett Smith
Combined net worth: $400 million
Source of wealth: Actor, rapper (Will Smith)/actress, singer, songwriter, screenwriter, author, producer (Jada Pinkett Smith)
Funding areas: Education, arts, civil rights, AIDS, underprivileged youth, poverty, human rights
Bottom Line for Will and Jada Pinkett Smith
This Hollywood power couple focuses their philanthropy on supporting families and improving lives. In addition to the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation (which has a focus on arts and education, social empowerment and sustainability), they have given money to a number of other organizations and schools in their hometowns of Philadelphia and Baltimore.
While the couple does much of their charitable giving quietly through their foundation, they reportedly donated $1,300,000 to various charities in 2008 and $900,000 in 2011.
Sandra Bullock
Net worth: $250 million
Source of wealth: Actress, producer
Funding areas: Disaster relief, animals, AIDS, human rights, children
Bottom Line for Sandra Bullock
Quick to act when disaster strikes, Sandra Bullock donated $1 million to the American Red Cross after 9/11 and an additional $1 million (each) after Hurricanes Harvey and Katrina.
After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, she contributed $1 million to Doctors Without Borders. She also was reportedly the first celebrity to donate after Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami ($1 million).
More recently, she also made contributions (about $500,000) to the Red Cross and the Humane Society of Ventura County in California to help with firefighting relief in 2018.
Martin Lewis
Net worth: £128 million ($165.8 million)
Source of wealth: Finance guru, entrepreneur, journalist
Funding areas: Finance education, hunger
Bottom Line for Martin Lewis
In 2012, the founder of the popular website Money Saving Expert, pledged to donate £10 million ($12.9 million) from the sale of MSE to charities.
The funds were placed into an account run by the Charities Aid Foundation, and as of 2015, about £4 million ($5.2 million) of that has been distributed, including £2 million ($2.6 million) to Citizens Advice, £700,000 ($907,350) to Personal Finance Education Group, and £600,000 ($777,729) to the Trussell Trust to support food banks.
Richard Branson
Net worth: $4 billion
Source of wealth: Entrepreneur, investor, author
Funding areas: Environment, climate change, education
Bottom Line for Richard Branson
Richard Branson's contributions are far too numerous to list here, but in recent years, the founder of the Virgin Group pledged $3 million to develop alternative fuel and combat environmental concerns and provided $750,000 to fund the Sara Blakely Foundation, which focuses on women’s education and encouraging entrepreneurship.
Mel Gibson
Net worth: $425 million
Source of wealth: Actor, director, producer, screenwriter
Funding areas: Health care, disaster relief, cancer, Catholic charities
Bottom Line for Mel Gibson
"Money" magazine reports that Mel Gibson donated $10 million to hospitals to pay for health care for children and $1 million to Mexico for Hurricane Stan recovery.
He also has donated more than $15 million to Holy Family Catholic Church.
Oprah Winfrey
Net worth: $3.5 billion
Source of wealth: Talk show host, actress, TV producer, media executive
Funding areas: Education, health care, disaster relief, children, civil rights, poverty, abuse, veterans
Bottom Line for Oprah Winfrey
By all accounts, TV talk show queen Oprah is the most generous celebrity out there. Known for her giveaways on her show, she also has made considerable donations to causes important to her.
She contributed $10 million to Hurricane Katrina efforts in 2005, and $50,200,000 for education, advocacy and health care for women and children in 2007.
"People" magazine reports that 2009 contributions through the Oprah Winfrey Foundation totaled over $40 million to support education and health care for women and children around the world.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Combined net worth: $520 million
Source of wealth: Actress, filmmaker (Angelina Jolie)/actor, producer (Brad Pitt)
Funding areas: Children, human rights, poverty, environment, refugees, relief efforts
Bottom Line for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Though this Hollywood power couple is no longer a couple, their contributions to bettering the world have been substantial. They have given over $8 million to help refugees.
In 2007, according to "Forbes," they also contributed $8,400,000 to their foundation (25 percent of their earnings), and a significant amount went to the Make It Right Project to build green homes in New Orleans.
Dan Whitney (aka, Larry the Cable Guy)
Net worth: $100 million
Source of wealth: Stand-up comedian, actor, producer, singer, radio personality
Funding areas: Children, health care, disaster relief
Bottom Line for Dan Whitney
Also known as Larry the Cable Guy, in 2009, Whitney donated $1,200,000 to Alexis Verzal Children's Rehabilitation Hospital at Madonna in Lincoln, Nebraska, and more than $1 million to the Lincoln Child Advocacy Center.
He followed that up in 2010 with a donation of $5 million to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. In 2019, the comedian pledged all proceeds from his Lincoln show to Red Cross disaster relief in his home state of Nebraska.
Meryl Streep and Donald Gummer
Combined net worth: $160 million
Source of wealth: Actress (Meryl Streep)/sculptor (Donald Gummer)
Funding areas: Hunger, homelessness, education, human rights, AIDS, environment
Bottom Line for Meryl Streep and Donald Gummer
Via Silver Mountain Foundation of the Arts, the Oscar-winning actress and her husband give away about $1 million a year to causes such as hunger, homelessness and education.
People magazine reports she contributed $4 million to the foundation in 2009.
Elton John
Net worth: $550 million
Source of wealth: Singer, songwriter, musician, composer
Funding areas: AIDS causes, disaster relief, children, animals, mental health, poverty
Bottom Line for Elton John
The singer, songwriter and composer is one of the wealthiest people in Britain and also one of the world’s most generous.
He has been contributing to AIDS causes since the late 1980s and, in addition to contributing his time and talent to benefits, has given much of his own fortune to the cause.
He donated an estimated $38 million to charity in 2015 and another $38 million in 2016. In 2019, he pledged $1 million to Australian bushfire relief.
J.K. Rowling
Net worth: $1 billion
Source of wealth: Children’s book author, film producer, television producer, screenwriter
Funding areas: Children’s welfare, poverty, literacy, multiple sclerosis, human rights, AIDS
Bottom Line for J.K. Rowling
The author of the Harry Potter series made news when she fell off the Forbes billionaires list in 2012 due to her estimated $160 million in donations.
Rowling favors charities that help single-parent families as well as those related to children’s welfare, literacy, poverty and multiple sclerosis.
She contributed almost £13 million ($16.8 million) in 2017 to a number of charities, mostly child-centered, around the world.
Paul McCartney
Net worth: $1.2 billion
Source of wealth: Singer, songwriter, musician, composer, producer
Funding areas: Children, animals, poverty, disaster relief, education, environment
Bottom Line for Paul McCartney
The former Beatle donates to about 35 charities. He does not publicize the amounts, but reportedly has given away his entire earnings from private concerts, which is estimated to be millions per show.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Net worth: $300 million
Source of wealth: Actor, producer
Funding areas: Environment, children, poverty, disaster relief
Bottom Line for Leonardo DiCaprio
The Oscar-winning actor has reportedly supported more than 200 projects in 50 countries and five oceans, with a large focus on environmental protection and conservation.
In 2016 alone, he donated $15 million through his foundation. More recently, his environmental organization Earth Alliance has announced a $3 million donation for Australian wildlife relief efforts.
Shin Min-a
Net worth: Between $1-5 million
Source of wealth: Model, actress
Funding areas: Education, children, eldery, refugees
Bottom Line for Shin Min-a
The South Korean model and actor has donated over $1,200,000 to help with education and health care for children.
Colin Kaepernick
Net worth: $20 million
Source of wealth: American football player
Funding areas: Civil rights
Bottom Line for Colin Kaepernick
In 2016, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick pledged $1 million, plus the proceeds of his jersey sales, to organizations that fight racial injustice. He fulfilled the promise in January 2018.
George and Amal Clooney
Combined net worth: $550 million
Source of wealth: Actor, director, producer, filmmaker (George Clooney)/human rights lawyer, activist and author (Amal Clooney)
Funding areas: Human rights, poverty, homelessness, disaster relief, peace, refugees
Bottom Line for George and Amal Clooney
The Hollywood leading man and his high-power attorney wife are frequent donors to organizations working in social rights advocacy.
In addition to forming the Clooney Foundation for Justice, the couple has made sizeable donations, such as a $500,000 donation to the March for Our Lives Campaign, and a $1 million donation to the Southern Poverty Law Center following the violence that erupted at the Charlottesville, Virginia, rally in 2017.
Taylor Swift
Net worth: $570 million
Source of wealth: Singer, songwriter, actress
Funding areas: Education, children, disaster relief, poverty, animals, women’s issues
Bottom Line for Taylor Swift
Country singer Swift is outspoken in her views and contributes generously to causes she believes in.
She donated $1 million after flooding in Louisiana, $100,000 after Tennessee wildfires and has been known to give away sums of several thousand to fans experiencing hardship.
In 2012, she gave $4 million to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to expand music education.
Emma Watson
Net worth: $85 million
Source of wealth: Actress, model
Funding areas: Gender equality, human rights, poverty, women’s issues, environment
Bottom Line for Emma Watson
The actress best known for her role as Hermione in the Harry Potter movies, Watson donated £1 million ($1.3 million) to the UK Justice and Equality Fund in 2018 to help those impacted by sexual harassment.
She also supports organizations fighting poverty, inequality and those championing women’s rights and the environment.
LeBron James
Net worth: $600 million
Source of wealth: Basketball player
Funding areas: Disadvantaged youth, arts, education, poverty
Bottom Line for LeBron James
The Los Angeles Lakers player and Olympic gold medalist made a $41 million pledge in 2015 to send kids to college.
In 2016, he donated $2.5 million to a Muhammad Ali exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture.
He also supports children’s charities such as the Boys and Girls Club of America and the Children’s Defense Fund.
Kylie Jenner
Net worth: $750 million
Source of wealth: TV personality, entrepreneur, fashion designer, author
Funding areas: Education, bullying, children, disaster relief, health
Bottom Line for Kylie Jenner
As part of a collaboration with Ellen DeGeneres, reality star Kylie Jenner and makeup mogul donated $750,000 to Nest of Love, $50,000 to a South Bronx elementary school and $200,000 to the family of one of its teachers.
In 2019 she contributed $1 million to Australia for the bushfire recovery efforts.
Alec Baldwin
Net worth: $70 million
Source of wealth: Actor, writer, producer, comedian
Funding areas: Cancer, arts, animals, children, education, environment, poverty, veterans
Bottom Line for Alec Baldwin
The actor most recently known for his portrayal of the president on "Saturday Night Live" has been a frequent patron of the arts.
He donated $1 million to The New York Philharmonic and $500,000 to the Roundabout Theater Company in 2011.
Other sizable donations include $1,700,000 to the East Hampton Library and about $2,700,000 to his alma mater.
Michael Jordan
Net worth: $2.2 billion
Source of wealth: Former basketball player, basketball team owner
Funding areas: Education, children, healthcare
Bottom Line for Michael Jordan
In 2007, the basketball legend donated $5 million to a prep school in Chicago.
He also has contributed $2 million to efforts to improve relations between African-Americans and the police and $5 million to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Miley Cyrus
Combined net worth: $160 million
Source of wealth: Singer, songwriter, actress
Funding areas: Disaster relief, cancer, health, poverty, children
Bottom Line for Miley Cyrus
In 2017, actress and singer Miley Cyrus donated $500,000 to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
She is no longer married to Liam Hemsworth, but after the California wildfires destroyed their home, she and Hemsworth donated about $500,000 to the Malibu Foundation through her Happy Hippie Foundation to help their fellow Californians rebuild.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Net worth: $500 million
Source of wealth: Portuguese football player
Funding areas: Children, health care, human rights, poverty
Bottom Line for Christiano Ronaldo
In 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo, the Real Madrid football (soccer for those in the U.S.) donated £600,000, or $777,396, (from auctioning off his Ballon d’Or trophy) to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
He had previously given funds to pay for operations for children in need and donated £5 million ($6.4 million) to aid relief efforts after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.
Jackie Chan
Net worth: $400 million
Source of wealth: Actor, director, producer, martial artist, stuntman, singer
Funding areas: Disaster relief, animals, education, poverty, elderly, health care
Botttom Line for Jackie Chan
The action star from Hong Kong has donated millions to Red Cross appeals, including more than $1,300,000 after China’s Sichuan earthquake in 2008.
In 1988, he formed the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation, which provides scholarships and other aid to young people. In 2004, he started a second, the Dragon’s Heart Foundation, to build schools and help both children and the elderly in remote areas of China.
He reportedly plans to donate an estimated $40 million to charities upon his death.
George Lucas
Net worth: $10 billion
Source of wealth: Director, filmmaker, entrepreneur
Funding areas: Education, human rights, health, children
Bottom Line for George Lucas
The celebrated director is a huge supporter of education-related causes. He contributed $4,250,000 to the Lucas Film Foundation and gave $75 million for new and renovated buildings, plus another $100 million endowment to the USC Film School in 2005.
His alma mater received an additional $10 million endowment in 2017. He also supports charities such as Stand Up to Cancer and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
David and Victoria Beckham
Combined net worth: $450 million
Source of wealth: Former English soccer player, soccer club owner (David Beckham)/singer, fashion designer (Victoria Beckham)
Funding areas: Health care, veterans, children, AIDS, hunger, poverty
Bottom Line for David and Victoria Beckham
Soccer star Beckham donated his 2013 salary of € 4 million ($4.5 million) to children’s charities in 2013.
He and his wife (former Spice Girl) also contribute to various organizations through their Victoria and David Beckham Charitable Trust and by donating personal items to raise money at charity auctions.
Nora Roberts
Net worth: $400 million
Source of wealth: Author
Funding areas: Literacy, cancer, animals
Bottom Line for Nora Roberts
The bestselling romance author has been recognized as a top philanthropist, mostly through the Nora Roberts Foundation (in 2009, she donated $4,450,000 to support literacy).
Other causes she has supported include cancer treatment and wildlife.
Jennifer Lawrence
Net worth: $160 million
Source of wealth: Actress
Funding areas: Children, arts, bullying, hunger, poverty
Bottom Line for Jennifer Lawrence
In 2016, the Oscar-winning actress donated $2 million to Kosair Children’s Hospital in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
The same year, her foundation, the Jennifer Lawrence Arts Fund also donated $188,000 to programs for the arts in Louisville.
James Patterson
Net worth: $800 million
Source of wealth: Author
Funding areas: Literacy, children, poverty, veterans
Bottom Line for James Patterson
The bestselling novelist provided 3,500 teachers across the U.S. grants totaling $1,750,000 in 2017 when he teamed up with Scholastic Book Clubs Inc. to enhance classroom libraries. (The bookseller matched Patterson’s gift with points to be redeemed for books and other teaching materials.)
This was not the first or the last time he made contributions toward literacy. In 2019, he made his fifth installment of the Patterson Partnership when he donated another $1,250,000.
Jennifer Lopez
Net worth: $400 million
Source of wealth: Singer, dancer, actress, fashion designer, producer
Funding areas: Children, addiction, disaster relief, health, poverty, women’s issues
Bottom Line for Jennifer Lopez
After Hurricane Maria in 2017, the pop star donated $1 million to Puerto Rican’s relief effort.
More recently, she and her fiancé Alex Rodriguez (former New York Yankees third baseman) donated a year’s worth of food, via their new Tiller & Hatch Supply Co. line of frozen foods, to Jacksboro Elementary School in Tennessee.
Lionel Messi
Net worth: $600 million
Source of wealth: Argentine football player
Funding areas: Children, health care, education
Bottom Line for Lionel Messi
The Argentine football player is known for spending his time and money on charity work, especially when it’s related to kids.
He donated more than €670,000 ($752,463) to a children’s hospital in his hometown of Rosario and over €350,000 ($393,078)to UNICEF for A Sun For the Children.
After winning a defamation lawsuit, he donated his damage award of €72,783 ($81,741) to Doctors Without Borders.
In 2019, through his charitable foundation, he donated €200,000 ($224,616) to fund UNICEF projects in Kenya.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z
Combined net worth: $2.5 billion
Source of wealth: Singer, songwriter, record producer, actress (Beyonce)/rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, record executive (Jay-Z)
Funding areas: Civil rights, addiction, education, disaster relief, hunger, children, poverty, environment, health
Bottom Line for Beyoncé and Jay Z
Beyoncé donated her $4 million salary for her role in "Cadillac Records" to the Phoenix House, a rehab center for drug addicts. She also donated $7 million to Knowles-Temenos Place Apartments after Hurricane Katrina.
Jay Z reportedly wired tens of thousands of dollars in bail money for Baltimore protesters involved in the Black Lives Matter movement. He also established a trust fund for the children of Sean Bell, a black man shot by police officers.
The couple also has made contributions to historically black colleges and provided scholarships through the BeyGOOD Initiative and The Shawn Carter Foundation.
Alecia Beth Moore (aka Pink)
Net worth: $200 million
Source of wealth: Singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, record producer, model
Funding areas: Animals, disaster relief
Bottom Line for Alecia Beth Moore
In 2017, the singer known as Pink donated $500,000 to Red Cross for Hurricane Harvey relief fund.
More recently, she was one of several celebrities who made significant contributions to the Australian bushfire relief effort, donating $500,000.
Ndamukong Suh
Net worth: $80 million
Source of wealth: American football player
Funding areas: Education
Bottom Line for Ndamukong Suh
Ndamukong Suh has made a nice living in the NFL, and he's also given back.
When he played for the Detroit Lions, Suh donated $2 million to the athletic department at his alma mater, Nebraska University, plus another $600,000 to the school’s College of Engineering to provide scholarships.
Jerry Seinfeld
Net worth: $950 million
Source of wealth: Comedian, actor, writer, producer, director
Funding areas: Education, children, arts, Jewish causes, poverty, health
Bottom Line for Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld has donated more than $2 million to the Seinfeld Family Foundation that works to support education, health, children’s services, Jewish organizations and the arts.
Along with his wife, Jessica, he also formed the organization GOOD+, which has a mission to end family poverty.
In 2006, the foundation donated $3 million to various organizations, including the American Red Cross, Autism Speaks and Scholarship America.
Jamie Gertz and Antony Ressler
Combined net worth: $3 billion
Source of wealth: Actress, investor (Jamie Gertz)/private equity tycoon and venture capitalist (Antony Ressler)
Funding areas: Education, health care, arts, Jewish causes
Bottom Line for Jamie Gertz and Antony Ressler
The actress and her investor-husband founded the Gertz-Ressler Foundation that has given away more than $10 million to fund education, health care and the arts, as well as Jewish causes.
Herb Alpert
Net worth: $850 million
Source of wealth: Musician
Funding areas: Arts
Bottom Line for Herb Alpert
In 2011, the musician contributed more than $9 million to the Herb Alpert Foundation to support the arts and organizations that focus on promoting compassion and well being.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi
Combined net worth: $550 million
Source of wealth: Talk show host (Ellen DeGeneres)/actress, model (Portia de Rossi)
Funding areas: Animals, children, LGBT causes, education, health care, poverty, mental health
Bottom Line for Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi
Besides frequent giveaways to fans on her talk show, Ellen DeGeneres has supported various causes, through her own donations and inspiring others to donate in her name.
Her viral Oscar selfie tweet resulted in Samsung donating $3 million to St Jude's Research Hospital and the Humane Society of the United States.
She also inspired her wife, Portia de Rossi, to establish the Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund, kicking it off with a $10 million donation.
Morgan Freeman
Net worth: $250 million
Source of wealth: Actor
Funding areas: Environment, animals, disaster relief, arts, education
Bottom Line for Morgan Freeman
According to "Money," through his Rock River Foundation, the Oscar-winning stage and film actor gave a $1 million grant to support education and the arts in Mississippi.
Chris Hemsworth
Net worth: $130 million
Source of wealth: Actor
Funding areas: Disaster relief, animals, human rights
Bottom Line for Chris Hemsworth
In an Instagram post, the actor announced his family’s contribution of AU $1 million ($660,875) to support the fight against the Australian bushfires while calling for others to donate if they could.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Net worth: Kanye West $400 million/Kim Kardashian $1.4 billion
Source of wealth: TV personality (Kim Kardashian)/producer, recording artist (Kanye West)
Funding areas: Health, animals, AIDS, children, poverty, education, disaster relief, human rights
Bottom Line for Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
While they are no longer together, Kim Kardashian, along with her family in 2017, donated $500,000 to Hurricane Harvey victims.
In 2018, she and her rapper husband, Kanye West, donated $500,000 to California firefighters.
In 2019, West honored his wife’s birthday with $1 million worth of donations in her name made to prison reform charities.
Kardashian has also donated $1 million to the Armenia Fund, a humanitarian organization provides relief to Armenian citizens in need.
Jamie Oliver
Net worth: $200 million
Source of wealth: Chef, restaurateur, author, screenwriter, TV producer
Funding areas: Food education, work training, disadvantaged youth, health
Bottom Line for Jaimie Oliver
In 2017, Chef Jamie Oliver made the Sunday Times Giving List (the top 10 most generous U.K. celebrities) by donating £1,700,000 ($2,202,435) for food education and work training.
Chip and Joanna Gaines
Combined net worth: $50 million
Source of wealth: TV personalities
Funding areas: Children, disaster relief
Bottom Line for Chip and Joanna Gaines
According to "People" magazine, the home renovating couple donated $1,500,000 to St. Jude Children’s Hospital as well as a playhouse designed especially for young patients.
The couple also has contributed a portion of the profits from sales of their merchandise to support people impacted by shootings and hurricane relief.
Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach
Combined net worth: $370 million
Source of wealth: Inger, songwriter, musician, actor, artist; Actress
Funding areas: Social welfare, disaster relief, children, AIDS, health, education
Bottom Line for Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach
Bottom line: The former Beatle has discovered that his art will sell, no matter the quality. He donates the proceeds to British and American charities as well as the NGO WaterAid.
In 2015, he and his wife, actress Bach, auctioned off some of their personal items, including Starr’s drum kit and his copy of the Beatle’s “White Album,” using some of the $9 million plus to start a charity, the Lotus Foundation, that aims to promote social welfare causes.
In 2017 Starr presented $100,000 to the Vegas Strong Fund, established to support the victims and their families of the shooting that occurred at a concert in that city.
Related:Most Generous Rich People in the World