Giving Pledge Adds Stephen Schwarzman, William Gross, and 11 Other Billionaires

The Giving Pledge announced Monday that Stephen Schwarzman, William Gross, and 11 other billionaires have committed to giving away at least half their wealth since May of last year, bringing the number who have signed the pledge to 216.

The Giving Pledge was created a decade ago by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. It is a public, nonbinding promise made by billionaires around the world.

Schwarzman co-founded the private-equity firm Blackstone. He and his wife, Christine, have landed five times on the Philanthropy 50, the Chronicle’s annual ranking of the people who gave the most each year. Most recently they were No. 14 in 2019 with $236.2 million in total giving, and No. 4 in 2018 with $390 million giving.

Gross, a bond investor, has given to education, medical research, health care in developing nations, and antipoverty programs in Africa, among other causes. In 2004, Gross and his then-wife Sue landed on the Philanthropy 50, at No. 27 on the list, with $43.5 million in giving that year. They have since divorced.

Also on the list are Robert E. and Dorothy J. King, who have appeared on the Philanthropy 50 twice: in 2016 with $100 million in giving (No. 12 on the list that year) and at No. 8 in 2011, with $166.5 million in giving. Much of the couple’s giving so far has been to Stanford University. Robert King was an investor and money manager.

Here’s who else has signed the Giving Pledge since May of 2019:

• Marcel Arsenault and Cynda Collins Arsenault
• Sarah and Rich Barton
• Ron and Gayle Conway
• Gordon V. Hartman
• Yan Huo and Xue Fang of the United Kingdom
• José Ferreira Neves of Portugal
• Jim Pattison of Canada
• Chad Richison
• Jeff and Marieke Rothschild
• David and Bonnie Weekley