Warren Buffett delivers annual gifts worth $2.86B to five charities

OMAHA, Neb. – Investor Warren Buffett has delivered his annual donation of Berkshire Hathaway stock to five charities as part of his plan to gradually give away his fortune.

The gifts of Class B Berkshire stock that Buffett disclosed Thursday were worth roughly $2.86 billion. More than 19.6 million Berkshire shares were donated.

The biggest share went to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Buffett also gave Class B Berkshire shares to his own foundation and to the foundations run by each of his three children.

Buffett has been giving away blocks of Berkshire stock since 2006. This year’s donation was slightly more than last year’s $2.8 billion giveaway. Fewer shares were involved but Berkshire’s stock price has increased.