According to the Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2013, in the period 2011-13, billionaires donated $69 billion. By comparison, Giving USA estimates that total annual giving in the U.S. in 2012 was $316 billion. The philanthropic activities of extremely rich individuals such as Andrew Carnegie and John Rockefeller have not only benefitted many people and causes but have also inspired new generations of philanthropists. More recently billionaires, many whom made their fortunes in the technology sector, including Bill and Melinda Gates, have donated huge sums of money to charity.
