It's so interesting how many of the comments already are some variant of how ridiculous this is that a rich person voluntarily donated their own money. That that's somehow bad, and what we really need to do is to force all of them to donate via taxation.

But you just got $6 billion and you already want more? This attitude exactly why so many people are against raising taxes, supposedly against their own self-interest. The idea that I can freely spend OTHER people's money is the most seductive thing in the world.

I don't think it's ridiculous that he voluntarily donated six billion dollars. I think it's ridiculous that he had six billion dollars to donate. I think it's even more ridiculous that donating six billion dollars won't even make a noticeable dent in his wealth.

> But you just got $6 billion

Just checked my accounts, I didn't get $6B. Maybe the wire just hasn't come through, I'll check back tomorrow.

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

$6B is what, 4% of his current net worth? For a family with a million dollar net worth that's about $40k to put it in more normal human perspectives.

I think there's plenty of more socially bad ways for him to toss his wealth around. I applaud him for doing a bit. But I also don't exactly see it as some extreme amount of charity, because at his level it really isn't that extreme.