Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, has donated nearly US$700 million in Alphabet Inc. shares to three philanthropic organizations, according to a statement from his family office, Bayshore Global.

The donation includes about 3.2 million shares, mostly directed to Catalyst4, a nonprofit Brin established in 2021 that focuses on central nervous system diseases and climate-change solutions.

The shares were evenly split between Alphabet Class A and Class C stock.

In addition, Brin’s family foundation received over 580,000 Alphabet shares. The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which funds Parkinson’s disease research, was given 282,000 shares.

Brin is currently the world’s 10th wealthiest individual, with a net worth of $143 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

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🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Brin’s systematic approach to neurological research shows personal motivations driving billion-dollar philanthropy

Brin’s donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation continues his extensive commitment to neurological research, with more than $1.5 billion already directed specifically to Parkinson’s research1.

This focus is deeply personal, as Brin’s mother suffered from Parkinson’s disease, and he carries a genetic mutation that increases his own risk of developing the condition1.

Beyond Parkinson’s, he has committed over $2 billion to tackle a range of neurological conditions, including bipolar disorder and autism, establishing a strategic philanthropic approach that funds both basic science and therapeutic development simultaneously1.

His Aligning Research to Impact Autism (ARIA) initiative, launched with nearly $50 million, demonstrates how his philanthropy has expanded to address multiple neurological conditions while maintaining a methodical funding strategy1.

This approach has already yielded significant research breakthroughs, including the identification of a gene variant linked to increased Parkinson’s risk in people of African ancestry1.

2️⃣ Climate philanthropy emerges as Brin’s rapidly growing funding priority

The donation to Catalyst4 continues Brin’s accelerating commitment to climate initiatives, with his contributions in this area surging 64% in the past year alone2.

Since beginning his focused climate philanthropy in 2021, Brin has contributed nearly $400 million to environmental causes, with approximately $243 million awarded through his foundation and an additional $22 million through Catalyst4 just in the past year2.

His climate funding strategically targets sectors that lag in decarbonization, including clean energy advancements, zero-emissions transportation, and wildfire prevention2.

Despite becoming one of the world’s top climate donors alongside figures like Michael Bloomberg, Brin maintains an unusually low profile in his environmental giving, often channeling donations through intermediaries and operating without a public website for his foundation2.

This latest stock gift represents a continuation of Brin’s pattern of substantial donations, following gifts of $600 million in May 2023 and over $100 million in both May and November 2024, while still maintaining his position as the world’s 10th richest person34.

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