Gates, Buffet Challenge World's Wealthiest to Give Half Their Net Worth to Charity

Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are challenging the world's richest people to pledge 50% of their net worth to charity, according to a lengthy Fortune article. They are starting with members of the Forbes 400, with a combined estimated $1.2 trillion. Half of that is $600 billion, a figure that would have a huge impact on philanthropic institutions. A year ago in May 2009, Gates and Buffett hosted a dinner that featured the world's elite. Only now have details spilled about what happened at the dinner. David Rockefeller hosted the dinner, and in attendance were Oprah Winfrey, George Soros, Michael Bloomberg, and Ted Turner, among others. Letters of invitation were sent out with signatures from Gates, Buffett, and Rockefeller. It's hard to turn down an invitation when those names are at the bottom. The guest list was leaked by Chuck Feeney, which prompted a cone of silence over the 2nd and 3rd dinners, whose guests have not been outed.