© Photo: FacebookMark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla astounded fans when they announced that they would donate 99 per cent of their Facebook shares to charity, to make the world a better place for their newborn daughter Max and other children.The influential power couple aren't the only ones who have pledged to share their millions with the needy.
HELLO! Online takes a look at other philanthropic celebrities...
© Photo: Getty ImagesSimon CowellShortly after he welcomed baby Eric with his partner Lauren Silverman, Simon Cowell said that he wouldn't be passing down his fortune, estimated to be worth £368million. Instead, the music mogul would prefer to give his money to charity."I'm going to leave my money to somebody. A charity, probably – kids and dogs. I don't believe in passing on from one generation to another," said Simon.
© Photo: Getty ImagesNigella LawsonThe mother to a daughter Cosima and a son Bruno, Nigella Lawson has vowed that she won't be leaving her children a penny.When asked what she hoped her brood would learn from her, Nigella told My Weekly: "To know that I am working and that you have to work in order to earn money. I am determined that my children should have no financial security. It ruins people not having to earn money."
© Photo: Getty ImagesBill GatesPrevious reports claimed that Bill Gates is planning to leave his children £7million each – a mere drop in the ocean compared to his £53billion fortune. But the Microsoft founder has admitted that their inheritance could be even less."They won't have anything like that," Bill said at a TED press conference last year. "They need to have a sense that their own is meaningful and important. You've got to make sure they have a sense of their own ability and what they're going to go and do."Bill and his wife Melinda, who set up The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000, will instead give away their fortunes to charitable causes. Last year £33million went to support emergency response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.Alongside Warren Buffett, the couple formed The Giving Pledge in 2012, encouraging billionaires to give their fortune to good causes. Bill has pledged to donate 95 per cent of his personal fortune.
© Photo: Getty ImagesWarren BuffettWhen Warren Buffett heard that Mark Zuckerberg was donating the majority of his Facebook shares, he congratulated the new dad and said that when it comes to giving away your fortune, "30 is the new 70".The billionaire investor, who is a part founder of The Giving Pledge, has said he will donate 99 per cent of his personal wealth to charity.
© Photo: Getty ImagesStingHe has three sons and three daughters but Sting has said that none of them would be given a trust fund. With an estimated fortune of £200 million, the musician is keen to instil a strong work ethic in his children."They have to work," Sting told the Mail on Sunday's Event magazine."All my kids know that and they rarely ask me for anything, which I appreciate. Obviously, if they were in trouble I would help them, but I've never really had to do that. They have this work ethic that makes them want to succeed on their own merit.""I told them there won't be much money left because we are spending it," he added. "We have a lot of commitments. What comes in we spend, and there isn't much left."
© Photo: Getty ImagesAndrew Lloyd WebberAndrew Lloyd Webber is not a believer in inherited money. The musician, who has five children and an estimated fortune of £800million, has previously said: "They aren't bothered. They don't think that way. It is about having a work ethic – I don't believe in inherited money at all.""I am not in favour of children suddenly finding a lot of money coming their way because then they have no incentive to work," he added to the Daily Mirror. "So I will give them a start in life but they ain't going to end up owning the Really Useful Group."The group, which Andrew founded in 1977, produces many of his stage shows and reflects the composer's wish to help struggling musicians.
