Peninsula and SF Billionaires Make Forbes List of Biggest Givers

Written by Bea Karnes

Silicon Valley has minted some incredibly wealthy people. While many enjoy the fruits of their labors by funding the next big thing through venture capital, others are using their wealth to fund favorite causes. Education, healthcare and medical research, and improving the environment top the list of causes funded by local billionaires.

Forbes has compiled a list of the Top 50 American Givers in 2012. Bill and Melinda Gates top the list with $1.9 billion in giving. Here’s a look at the local residents, both in the tech field and beyond, who made the list:

America’s 50 Top Givers

#4 Mark Zuckerberg, Palo Alto - $519 million, $499 million to Silicon Valley Community Foundation

#8 Paul Allen, Atherton (new homeowner) - $327.7 million, including $300 million to the Allen Institute for Brain Science

#10 Gordon & Betty Moore, Woodside - $250.5 million to scientific research, environmental conservation, patient care and issues affecting the Bay Area

#17 Stephen Bechtel, Jr., San Francisco - $102.5 million here in California to health and education causes

#35 Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki, Los Altos - $46.9 million to Silicon Valley causes and Parkinson’s research

#36 Larry Ellison, Woodside - $46.5 million donated to research on aging and age-related illness

#39 John A Sobrato and family, Atherton - $41.4 million including $18 million to the Lucile Packard Foundation

#41 George Roberts, Atherton - $40.3 million to Claremont McKenna College