In 2006 Warren Buffett committed to gradually give all his Berkshire Hathaway stock to philanthropic foundations.

True if records from 2006 show Buffett announced a commitment to give all (or essentially all) of his Berkshire Hathaway stock to philanthropic foundations, to be distributed gradually, e.g. through annual gifts. Examples are his June 2006 pledge letters to the Gates Foundation and family foundations, Berkshire's press release, or SEC filings. Mostly true if the commitment was made in 2006 and was for gradual gifts of Berkshire stock, but a minor detail differs: it was stated as a large share rather than literally all, or part of the stock was earmarked for something slightly different. Mixed if only one core element holds: the year is right but the scope or recipients differ substantially, or the scope is right but the year is off. Mostly false if a commitment existed but differed materially, for example a much smaller fraction, made in a different year, or made only as a bequest at death rather than gradual giving. False if the evidence shows no such commitment was made in or around 2006.

Set before the research began.

1. E1 June 26, 2006 Mr. and Mrs. William H. Gates III I greatly ... Berkshire Hathaway (Warren E. Buffett letter to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) · 26 June 2006 Own record

   “by this letter, I am irrevocably committing to make annual gifts of Berkshire Hathaway "B" shares throughout my lifetime for the benefit of BMG.”

2. E2 Buffett Will Start Giving His $$$ Away CBS News · 25 June 2006

   “The decision to start giving next month through annual stock donations represents a stark reversal for the investment wizard, who for years had said his wealth would be pledged to philanthropies after his death.”

3. E3 Contribution to History The Chronicle of Philanthropy · 20 July 2006

   “Mr. Buffett has earmarked 10 million shares of Berkshire Hathaway stock for the Gates Foundation. He will give away 5 percent of those shares to the foundation in 2006, and 5 percent of the remaining balance each year until his death.”

E1, Buffett's June 26, 2006 letter, irrevocably commits him to annual gifts of Berkshire Hathaway B shares throughout his lifetime for the Gates Foundation. E2 (CBS, June 2006) independently reports the decision to begin annual stock donations, replacing his earlier plan to give his wealth after death. E3 confirms 10 million Berkshire shares earmarked for the Gates Foundation, given at 5 percent of the remaining balance each year. The year and the gradual-gift structure are confirmed, but the evidence does not show the commitment covered literally all of his Berkshire stock, so the claim resolves mostly true.