Even if you hate rich people, it's nice to see two of them get together for charity. Maybe we can convince them to start crunching too :)

"The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was set up in 2000 with $26bn from the Microsoft fortune, and has $30bn in assets, making it the biggest charitable trust in the world. Even if Berkshire Hathaway shares do not rise in value over the coming years, the promised donation by Mr Buffett would add a further $30bn.

The foundation is known for its work trying to eradicate malaria, tuberculosis and Aids in the developing world, on which it focuses 60 per cent of its grants. In the US, where it began as a project to hook libraries up to the internet, it is trying to improve secondary education by setting up or refurbishing hundreds of schools."