8. Paul Allen, U.S.

Donations: $1.45 billion

Net worth: $15 billion

Born in 1953, he is an American investor and philanthropist best known as the co-founder, with Bill Gates, of Microsoft Corporation. In a note, the Microsoft co-founder said that science had become a priority for his personal giving. His foundation gives grants to those exploring “edgy neuroscience.” Till now he has donated $500 million to the Allen Institute for Brain Science, which released a $55 million digital atlas of the brain in 2011. He supports Pacific Northwest charities but is now starting to look abroad.

9. Ted Turner, U.S.

Donations: $1.5 billion

Net worth: $2 billion

Born in 1938, he is an American media mogul and the founder of the cable news network CNN. While building his cable television empire he famously criticized other billionaires for not giving money away while they were young and still had energy and ideas. In 1998 he announced a $1 billion pledge to United Nations-related causes and has given $916 million till date.

10. Herbert Sandler, U.S.

Donations: $1.5 billion

Net worth: $150 million

Sandler with his wife created Golden West Financial Corporation, a savings and loan holding company, to acquire Golden West Savings and Loan Association, the predecessor to World Savings Bank. Later they sold it for $25 billion to Wachovia in 2006 before the credit crisis began. They have since been mostly focused on charity. The couple's most high-profile charity is investigative journalism group ProPublica, which won its first Pulitzer in 2010 and another in 2011. The Sandlers also are passionate funders of civil liberties groups like the ACLU, and of scientific research, especially for diseases that affect low-income people, like asthma.

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