FX.co ★ Billionaires who will leave their children without inheritance

Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg’s wealth is currently estimated at $250 billion, most of it tied to his 13% stake in Meta. Yet the high-tech mogul has no plans to leave this fortune to his children. Alongside his wife, Priscilla Chan, he has pledged to donate 99% of his Meta shares to charitable causes. Their Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has already allocated nearly $7 billion toward healthcare, education, and equal opportunities. Mark Zuckerberg believes money should change the lives of all people, not just those born into wealth.

Laurene Powell Jobs

Laurene Powell Jobs has a net worth of around $14 billion, most of which she inherited after the death of her husband, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. But she has no intention of passing it on to their three children. “I’m not interested in legacy wealth, and my children know that,” she stated in an interview. Instead, Powell Jobs channels her wealth into education, immigration reform, and environmental causes through the Emerson Collective — a fund for her large-scale, purposeful philanthropy.

Yvon Chouinard

Yvon Chouinard is the founder of Patagonia, one of the most recognizable outdoor apparel and gear brands. Once a billionaire worth $1.2 billion, he deliberately gave up that status. In 2022, he transferred ownership of the company to a trust and nonprofit organization aimed at fighting the climate crisis. His children supported the decision, stating they did not want to be beneficiaries of the fortune. Patagonia’s annual profits — about $100 million — are now directed toward protecting the planet.

Bill Gates

Though Bill Gates has already funneled a large portion of his wealth into the Gates Foundation, he still has a net worth of around $177 billion. His three children, however, are expected to inherit only a small portion of it. Gates said that a massive inheritance does more harm than good, and he believes children should “find their own path.” His philanthropic philosophy is also behind the Giving Pledge, which he launched with Warren Buffett to encourage billionaires to give away the majority of their wealth.

Warren Buffett

With a fortune estimated at $152 billion, Warren Buffett has long maintained a firm stance: his children will not inherit wealth just by virtue of birth. He has called passing down vast wealth “just because they were born into the right family” a socially harmful act. Buffett believes children should receive enough to do anything, but not so much that they do nothing. He has pledged all of his Berkshire Hathaway shares to charity, with some portions going to foundations managed by his children.