Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan join roster of super-rich donating big to charity

Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan are the latest of the world's super-rich to donate or pledge a large sum of their wealth to charity.

Check our list of richest donors who have given away or pledged large portions of their wealth

CBC News · Posted: Dec 02, 2015 2:16 PM EST | Last Updated: December 2, 2015

Mark Zuckerberg, left, and wife Priscilla Chan Zuckerberg said Tuesday they will donate 99 per cent of their roughly $45 billion US fortune, joining a list of wealthy people who have given large sums to charity. (Facebook )

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan announced Tuesday in a Facebook post they plan to give away 99 per cent of their wealth, worth about $45 billion US.

They become the latest of the world's super-rich to pledge their wealth to philanthropic efforts.

Bill and Melinda Gates

The Microsoft chairman and his wife donated $1.3 billion in 2014, according to Forbes. They are also a part of the Giving Pledge, a campaign started by the couple and Warren Buffett to encourage the world's richest people to give most of their wealth to philanthropic causes.

Bill Gates, the second wealthiest person in the world, and his wife Melinda Gates. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Richard Branson

Virgin Group owner Branson, worth more than $4 billion, is a part of the Giving Pledge and plans to give half his fortune away to charity.

Walton family

The family behind retail supernova Walmart gave away $375 million in 2014, according to Forbes.

Jim Walton, left, and Alice Walton. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

Michael Bloomberg

The former New York City mayor and founder of financial data and media company Bloomberg has committed to the Giving Pledge and donated $462 million in 2014, according to Forbes.

George Soros

The billionaire hedge fund manager gave away $733 million in 2014, according to Forbes, and he funds a network of foundations and charities in 70 countries around the world.

Sheryl Sandberg and David Goldberg

Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg and her late husband, former SurveyMonkey chief executive David Goldberg, said they would give away half their fortune as a part of the Giving Pledge.

Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, and her late husband David Goldberg, CEO of SurveyMonkey. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

Tim Cook

Apple CEO Tim Cook told Fortune magazine he plans to donate his estimated $785 million to charity after paying for his 10-year-old nephew's college education. "You want to be the pebble in the pond that creates the ripples for change," Cook said.