Who are the most famous sinners in history?
"Thanks everyone who suggested all the worthy organizations for me to give to. I hope you were as inspired as I was! There’s so many more and I promise to keep giving," Kaling tweeted on June 25, 2019, after all 40 donations were assigned.
But it's not the first time he showed the world his altruism. While filming the music video for 'God's Plan' in 2017, he doled out a cool million.
The basketball star also likes to show off his heart of gold.
The renowned television host is known for her charitable contributions to both animal and human causes.
She is also a UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador.
The singer has also donated to numerous causes, including the Country Hall of Fame Museum and an Alabaman school affected by tornadoes. For her efforts, she was named the most charitable celebrity in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
He posted on his Instagram: "I'm thrilled to be a part of this program, because I want to inspire people to find a solution and protect the world's oceans so future generations can enjoy them like I do."
U2 was also heavily involved in the Band Aid and Live Aid projects organized by Sir Bob Geldof. Later came Bono's work with the ONE and (RED) campaigns.
In 2008, she received the British Red Cross' Services to Humanity Award for her efforts in raising awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa.
See also: Celebs making strides for social justice
"Happy birthday to me - I worked hard these 40 years," Kaling wrote on June 24, 2019. But she didn’t stop there. "I’m so grateful to have my wonderful, peaceful life [with] my daughter Katherine. How lucky am I to turn 40? I would love to express my gratitude by donating $1000 to 40 different charitable [organizations] that help others.""
The famed DJ created the #GoodThingChallenge, named after his song with Kehlani, 'Good Thing.' Zedd himself donated US$10,000 to the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation as part of the challenge.
In late November, 2019, the singer went without her famous wigs and showed up at a Walmart in Southern California to pay for shoppers' groceries. Oh, but not as herself! She tried to convince folks her name was Cici and that she had just won the lottery! And she almost got away with it too, until one grateful woman realized who she was and shared the news.
Taylor Swift is a repeat offender in the best way possible. She also donated US$1 million to help victims of the two deadly tornadoes that rocked her home state of Tennessee. She had previously made a $500,000 donation in 2010 following a major flood in the state.
As if that weren't enough, Sia was also spotted footing the bill for customers at a nearby TJ Maxx store, this all before Thanksgiving.
The singer donated over US$30,000 to cover the tuition fees of Vitória Mário, a Portuguese immigrant who has been living in the UK for four years and hopes to become a mathematician. Mário comes from a low-income family, lost her father, and is separated from her mother, who lives in Portugal. "Vitoria, I came across your story online and am so inspired by your drive and dedication to turning your dreams into reality," Swift shared. "I want to gift you the rest of your goal amount."
The goal of MGI is to create an income floor by sending no-strings-attached monthly cash payments to those in need, meant to combat unemployment and racial and economic injustice. Dorsey's funds are being used to launch or expand guaranteed-income pilots in major cities around the US.
In 2020, former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey threw his weight and his wallet behind a program that is working to create a guaranteed basic income for those in need. Especially since the pandemic, a lack of basic income affects the economy at large, but especially those already struggling to make ends meet. Dorsey donated US$15 million to help fund a pilot program by the organization Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI), an amount which is in addition to the US$3 million he previously donated to the organization earlier that year.
The Weeknd announced on April 4, 2021, that he was donating US$1 million for hunger relief in Ethiopia amid the ongoing conflict between the government and the Tigray region which has brought on thousands of deaths and has displaced millions of people. The money will provide two million meals to those in need through the United Nations World Food Program. "My heart breaks for my people of Ethiopia as innocent civilians ranging from small children to the elderly are being senselessly murdered and entire villages are being displaced out of fear and destruction," the singer, born Abel Tesfaye, wrote on Instagram.
Megan Thee Stallion isn't just giving away money, but she's also teaching her fans how to make it for themselves. That, plus a US$1 million stock giveaway in partnership with the CashApp, of course. The rapper paired the promotion, which started June 29, with a series of educational videos titled "Investing for Hotties," focused on teaching her fans the fundamentals of buying stocks. In a statement reported by E! News, she explained that she wants to show her supporters that investing isn't just for the 1%. "I want people to learn how to build their own empire and be financially independent," she explained. "Buying stocks isn't just for the rich ... I made these 'Investing for Hotties' educational videos to help my fans learn more about different options that are available to them." She's redistributing the wealth!
On Women's Day 2021, the rapper announced 'Women On Top', a US$1 million fund to support women in education, business, charity and more. The fund is in partnership with Fashion Nova.
This is hardly his first benevolent act, too. In 2020, he donated US$1 million to help those affected by the pandemic, US$500,000 to nonprofit organizations committed to racial equality, and US$300,000 to victims of the explosion in Beirut, Lebanon.
In the wake of Haiti's 7.2-magnitude earthquake in 2021, tennis star Naomi Osaka pledged to donate all of her prize money from the Western and Southern Open to the Haitian relief effort. The devastating quake claimed over 1,200 lives and affected many more. Osaka, whose father is Haitian, wrote on social media, "Really hurts to see all the devastation that’s going on in Haiti, and I feel like we really can’t catch a break," likely referencing the country's ongoing struggle with the fallout of the 2010 earthquake, plus the food scarcity, and the assassination of their president in July.
Prince Harry made a surprise appearance at a charity polo match in Aspen, Colorado, in August 2022. It was organized by Prince Harry's Sentebale foundation, a charity that raises funds for children living in poverty in Lesotho and Botswana. At the match, he pledged a US$1.5 million donation to Sentebale which will come from the proceeds of his memoir. The tell-all book hit shelves in January 2023 and broke records as one of the fastest-selling autobiographies of all time.
On World Mental Health Day in 2021, Ariana Grande announced she was teaming up with the mental health platform Better Help to give away up to US$5 million in free therapy. “I acknowledge that there are very real barriers when it comes to accessing mental health resources,” she wrote, “and while this is only one small gesture (and a much larger systemic problem remains) I wanted to do this again with @betterhelp in hopes of bringing access to a few more people and perhaps inspiring a few of you to try something new and prioritize your own healing.” That was the second time in 2021 alone that Grande had offered fans free therapy, having done a similar giveaway of up to US$1 million in June.
Dolly Parton opened an amusement park called Dollywood in Tennessee back in 1986. Since then, the park has gained thousands of seasonal, part-time, and full-time employees. It was announced in 2022 that Dollywood would cover the tuition fees for any employees wishing to pursue a degree. Even part-time and seasonal employees can apply for the scheme on their first day. Dollywood has pledged to pay 100% of the tuition costs, fees, and books.
Snapchat co-founder Evan Spiegel and his wife, model Miranda Kerr, surprised the 285 students in the Class of 2022 graduating from Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles with one whopper of a gift: all of their student debt paid off. It's the largest donation in the school's century-old history, reports LA Times, and it's estimated to be over US$10 million. The announcement was made during commencement and students were shocked and elated. “It changed my life and made me feel at home,” Spiegel told the graduating class of his time taking summer classes at Otis. “I felt pushed and challenged to grow surrounded by super talented artists and designers, and we were all in it together.” Spiegel and Kerr, founders of the Spiegel Family Fund, said in a statement that the college is “an extraordinary institution that encourages young creatives to find their artistic voices and thrive in a variety of industries and careers. It is a privilege for our family to give back and support the Class of 2022, and we hope this gift will empower graduates to pursue their passions, contribute to the world, and inspire humanity for years to come.”
Basketball legend Michael Jordan decided to celebrate his 60th birthday by making a record-breaking donation to charity. The Charlotte Hornets owner announced that he was donating US$10 million to Make-A-Wish America, the largest donation from a single person in the organization's 43-year history. Jordan has partnered with the charity for years to make wishes for critically ill children come true. In 2008, he was named a Make-A-Wish ambassador “for the life-changing impact he has had on wish kids and their families."
“For the past 34 years, it’s been an honor to partner with Make-A-Wish and help bring a smile and happiness to so many kids,” Jordan said in a statement. “Witnessing their strength and resilience during such a tough time in their lives has truly been an inspiration. I can’t think of a better birthday gift than seeing others join me in supporting Make-A-Wish so that every child can experience the magic of having their wish come true.”
Dwayne Johnson felt like an outsider to Hollywood for a long time after trying to switch gears away from wrestling, but in 2023 he was the first actor to step up and make a "historic" donation to help struggling actors through the SAG-AFTRA Foundation relief fund, according to its president Courtney B. Vance. The union went on strike on July 13 and the foundation, a non-profit organization associated with the union, reignited the Emergency Financial Assistance Program which had sprung up during the pandemic. Vance reportedly drafted a letter to 2,700 of the union’s highest-earning actors outlining the financial need that many would face in the work stoppage, and Johnson called him. “It was a love fest. It’s like, ‘Man, you’re stepping up in a way that is allowing others to know the dire necessity of it,'” Vance said about Johnson's contribution. The exact amount is confidential, but Variety reports it was seven figures.
As Taylor Swift wrapped the North American leg of her wildly successful 'Eras' tour, she decided to dish out some serious bonuses to the crew that made it all happen. Truck drivers, for example, received a bonus of US$100,000 each, racking up a US$5 million payout for that department alone. In total, Swift gave US$55 million in bonuses to the entire crew, including dancers, caterers, sound engineers, and riggers.
On January 8, 2022, a devastating fire broke out in an apartment block in the Bronx, New York. Seventeen people were killed due to smoke inhalation, their ages ranging from two to 50 years old. Bronx native Cardi B has stepped up and offered to pay the funeral costs for all of the victims of this terrible tragedy. In her statement, the rapper said she was proud to be from the Bronx and offered her support to the families: "I cannot begin to imagine the pain and anguish that the families of the victims are experiencing, but I hope that not having to worry about the costs associated with burying their loved ones will help as they move forward and heal. I send my prayers and condolences to everyone affected by this horrific tragedy."
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively followed Johnson's lead and donated US$1 million. Foundation president Courtney B. Vance revealed that they've raised US$15 million for the fund so far thanks to donations like these. Other famous contributors include George and Amal Clooney, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, Meryl Streep, and Oprah Winfrey.
Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' tour stopped off at the FedEx Field in Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C., on August 6, 2023. Unfortunately, dangerously stormy weather arrived just as the Beyhive was gathering for the monumental show. The concert faced significant delays while fans were ordered to shelter in place due to the extreme weather conditions. With the show kicking off late, it meant that public transport would have shut down for the night by the time it ended. However, Beyoncé isn't one to leave her fans out in the cold. The 'Alien Superstar' singer paid DC Metro a whopping US$100,000 to extend their service for an extra hour so that concertgoers could still get home.
While we often hear about extravagant celebrity purchases, from luxury cars to handbags that could pay off student loans, many stars have also decided to give back to the society that lifts them up. Beyond their mere influence or social media posts, many kindhearted celebrities have put their money where their mouth is and donated impressive sums of money to those who aren’t so fortunate. Of course, their fame and influence also provide huge boosts in awareness for the causes that matter.
Recently, Taylor Swift made a massive donation of US$5 million to Feeding America, an organization providing aid to those affected by the devastating hurricanes wreaking havoc across the country's East Coast. Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction and more than 200 deaths during the last week of September, primarily in the southeastern states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Milton touched down on October 9 in the very same areas struggling with the aftermath of Helene. "This contribution will help communities rebuild and recover, providing essential food, clean water, and supplies to people affected by these devastating storms," read a statement from Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot. "Together, we can make a real impact in supporting families as they navigate the challenges ahead."
Following her lead, her good friends Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds gave $1 million to Feeding America. The organization thanked the couple for their "longtime support of Feeding America" in a statement on October 10.
In this gallery, discover more of the most admirable and generous stars around.
The charitable celebs who keep on giving
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds join Taylor Swift and donate US$1 million for hurricane relief
CELEBRITY Charity
While we often hear about extravagant celebrity purchases, from luxury cars to handbags that could pay off student loans, many stars have also decided to give back to the society that lifts them up. Beyond their mere influence or social media posts, many kindhearted celebrities have put their money where their mouth is and donated impressive sums of money to those who aren’t so fortunate. Of course, their fame and influence also provide huge boosts in awareness for the causes that matter.
Recently, Taylor Swift made a massive donation of US$5 million to Feeding America, an organization providing aid to those affected by the devastating hurricanes wreaking havoc across the country's East Coast. Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction and more than 200 deaths during the last week of September, primarily in the southeastern states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Milton touched down on October 9 in the very same areas struggling with the aftermath of Helene. "This contribution will help communities rebuild and recover, providing essential food, clean water, and supplies to people affected by these devastating storms," read a statement from Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot. "Together, we can make a real impact in supporting families as they navigate the challenges ahead."
Following her lead, her good friends Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds gave $1 million to Feeding America. The organization thanked the couple for their "longtime support of Feeding America" in a statement on October 10.
In this gallery, discover more of the most admirable and generous stars around.