The rich and famous donating fortunes to combat COVID-19
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The stars giving big bucks to fight coronavirus
From reality stars and Hollywood A-listers to sporting legends and tech billionaires, a litany of prominent people are delving deep into their pockets to donate millions to the coronavirus relief effort, funding food banks, medical research and more. Click or scroll through to discover who among the rich and famous are donating money to combat COVID-19.
Justin Bieber
One of the first major celebrities to donate to a charity battling the Covid-19 pandemic, Justin Bieber pledged $29,000 (£23k) in February to the Beijing Chunmiao Foundation, a Chinese children's charity. The Yummy singer has also teamed up with artists like Robin Thicke and Meek Mill to offer prizes for the All In Challenge, which was created by Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin to raise money for organisations fighting coronvairus.
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Eric Stonestreet
Playing his part to mitigate the worst effects of the virus, Modern Family's Eric Stonestreet has chosen to contribute to a food bank organisation. The Emmy Award-winning actor revealed on Twitter he was donating 200,000 meals to Harvesters, a regional food bank based in Stonestreet's hometown of Kansas City, Missouri.
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Liam Payne
Likewise, Liam Payne has stepped in to support the Trussell Trust's network of food banks, which are struggling due to a double-whammy drop in donations and surge in demand. The boy band member turned solo artist is paying for 360,000 meals that will be distributed in 100 Trussell Trust centres across the UK.
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Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon is one of many big names that has donated to Feeding America. The second largest charity in the US by revenue, the vast hunger-relief organisation operates a network of 200 food banks across the country and feeds around 40 million people at risk of going without.
Stephen and Ayesha Curry
Other celebrities giving back during this time of crisis include Stephen and Ayesha Curry. Through their Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation, the NBA player and his TV chef wife have donated generously to the Alameda County Community Food Bank in Oakland, California, which is aiming to supply more than one million meals to those who need them.
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel
Joining the ranks of stars donating to food banks, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are supporting the Mid-South Food Bank in Memphis, Tennessee. As a nice extra touch, the famous couple marked their son Silas' fifth birthday on 8 April with cash gifts to Feeding America and Save the Children.
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Russell Wilson and Ciara
Russell Wilson and Ciara have teamed up with their local food bank, Seattle Food LifeLine, to provide people in low income and vulnerable groups with one million meals. The star quarterback and his R&B singer wife announced their intention to donate in an Instagram video in which they also urged fans to do everything they can to help, and have donated a prize to the All In Challenge to boot.
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez
Wilson and Ciara were also instrumental in setting up an initiative with Feeding America and private jet company Wheels Up, which aims to supply needy Americans with 10 million meals. Among the plan's biggest donors are Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez. Between them, the celebrity twosome have covered the cost of one million meals.
Kanye West
Staying with celebrities supporting efforts to feed people who may not be able to afford groceries during the pandemic, Kanye West has pumped cash into two charities providing meals to the elderly and other vulnerable people: Dream Center Los Angeles and We Women Empowered, which operates in Chicago.
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Ariana Grande
On 19 March Ariana Grande announced via her Instagram account that she has donated to several organisations fighting coronavirus including Feeding America, GiveDirectly, the Italian Red Cross, Opportunity Fund and the WHO's COVID-19 solidarity response fund, and urged her followers to do the same. The 7 Rings singer is also using the Venmo money transfer app to dole out cash gifts of up to $1,500 (£1.2k) to her fans, called Arianators, who are low on money.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is helping out needy coronavirus-hit fans in much the same way, quietly writing out $3,000 (£2.4k) cheques to hard-up Swifties, who have taken to social media to thank the hitmaker and gush about her boundless generosity. The best-selling artist has donated to Feeding America and the WHO's COVID-19 solidarity response fund, and is covering healthcare costs for staff at an ailing record store in Nashville.
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Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow has joined other celebrities in donating colossal piles of cash to the Frontline Responders Fund, a GoFundMe campaign raising millions of dollars to buy protective gear for America's healthcare workers. The actress, who played patient zero in the spookily prescient 2011 movie Contagion, committed $100,000 (£80k) to keep “our heroic medical teams healthy through full PPE gear”.
Kristen Bell
Actress Kristen Bell is focusing on lessening the impact on the virus on kids. As well as hosting a Nickelodeon special on coronavirus that aimed to allay any fears children may have, the Frozen star has donated just over $150,000 (£119k) to the No Kid Hungry charity. Bell's own children even contributed to the donation by emptying their piggy banks.
Shawn Mendes
Like many of the stars in our round-up, Shawn Mendes has his very own eponymous philanthropic foundation. Set up last August, the organisation, which concentrates on youth-related causes, recently dished out $175,000 (£140k) to SickKids Foundation to enable the charity to screen for and prevent COVID-19 in young patients in Toronto, Canada.
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Donatella and Allegra Versace
Italy has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and many celebrities in the country have mobilised to help out in this exceptionally challenging time. Fashion designer Donatella Versace and her daughter Allegra for instance have given €200,000 ($218k/£174k) to the intensive care unit of San Raffaele hospital in Milan.
James McAvoy
Across the pond, James McAvoy is also on a mission to provide frontline healthcare workers with PPE. The Scottish actor contributed $345,000 (£275k) to Masks for Heroes, a crowdfunding campaign set up by a group of doctors to provide protective facewear where it's required. Thanks to McAvoy and the other people who donated, the organisers have raised $2.3 million (£1.8m), massively exceeding their target of $250,000 (£200k).
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Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga has donated generously to America's Food Fund, the campaign started by Apple and the Ford Foundation together with Leonardo DiCaprio and Laurene Powell Jobs to feed the most vulnerable people in the country, and has put herself on the mother of all fundraising drives. All in all, the pop sensation has secured an impressive $35 million (£27.9m) in donations for coronavirus relief organisations.
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Rosie O'Donnell
The veteran comedian, actress and talk luminary resurrected her old chat show The Rosie O'Donnell Show on 22 March for a one-off broadcast in aid of the Actor's Fund, an organisation assisting out of work thespians and crew members. The charity special, which streamed on Broadcast.com, featured the likes of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Billy Porter and Sarah Jessica Parker, who all participated remotely. In total, the show raised half a million dollars and O'Donnell threw in an additional $100,000 (£80k).
Pink
One of several celebrities to have tested positive for coronavirus, Pink is as you might expect incredibly grateful to the healthcare workers who helped her and others pull through. As a sign of her appreciation, the What About Us singer has donated $500,000 (£400k) to the Philadelphia hospital where her mother worked for years and an identical amount of cash to the City of Los Angeles Mayor's Emergency COVID-19 Crisis Fund.
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Bethenny Frankel
Bethenny Frankel has raked in tons of cash over the course of her reality TV career and channels a big chunk of the proceeds to her disaster relief foundation BStrong. The former Real Housewife of New York has vowed to donate one million face masks to hospitals in the Big Apple and elsewhere in the US, and the foundation is set to give more than $15 million (£12m) to pandemic relief efforts according to the reality star.
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Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves
Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey and his model and designer wife Camila Alves have decided to do their bit by linking up with Bethanny Frankel's BStrong charity to provide first responders in Austin, Texas as well as the city of New Orleans with 80,000 N95 face masks. The A-list couple made a surprise appearance at their neighbourhood fire station on Good Friday to announce the initiative.
Billy Joel
Native New Yorker Billy Joel is funnelling enormous sums of cash into the charitable foundation he runs with his wife Alexis to support people and organisations on the front line of the battle against the virus. For starters, the foundation has handed over $500,000 (£400k) to Bethenny Frankel's BStrong charity to spend on much-needed PPE, including masks and hazmats suits, for healthcare workers in the Empire State.
Jack Ma
Alibaba founder Jack Ma is lending a helping hand to frontline healthcare workers and vulnerable people the world over. Through his charitable foundations, the Chinese e-commerce billionaire has gifted the US a total of 500,000 test kits and one million face masks, and is donating millions of test kits, face masks and other essentials to over 60 nations around the globe.
Angelina Jolie
Like Kristen Bell, Angelina Jolie has elected to support No Kid Hungry, a charity playing a pivotal role right now providing nutritious meals to children who are missing out on free school lunches. Jolie has given the charity a cool $1 million (£800k).
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
Hollywood golden couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are helping out in a similar way. The A-list duo have pledged $1 million (£800k) split between charities Feeding America and Food Banks Canada to help prevent vulnerable people in the two countries going hungry.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger has also parted with $1 million (£800k) to help fight the virus. The former pro bodybuilder, Hollywood leading man and Californian governor donated the money on 24 March to the Frontline Responders Fund, the GoFundMe campaign also supported by Gwyneth Paltrow and other world-famous celebrities.
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos
Kelly Ripa and husband Mark Consuelos have been generous in their support of the fight against COVID-19. To date the TV presenter and actor have given away $1 million (£800k). To help address the surge in domestic violence cases due to the lockdown, half the cash has gone to WIN, a charity that runs women's shelters in New York. The other half is being used to purchase PPE for frontline healthcare workers.
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Ryan Seacrest
Ripa's Live with Kelly and Ryan co-presenter has been just as generous with Ryan Seacrest also donating $1 million (£800k) to help mitigate the impact of the virus. The money is helping to fund relief efforts in New York and Los Angeles, two cities close to the radio and TV host's heart, and will pay for everything from accommodation to food for first responders.
Kylie Jenner
The world's youngest self-made billionaire can certainly afford to part with a substantial sum of money in aid of coronavirus relief, and hasn't disappointed. On March 26 Kardashian family physician Dr Thaïs Aliabadi revealed that Kylie Jenner had gifted frontline healthcare workers at the Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles PPE worth $1 million (£800k).
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Kim Kardashian
Older sister Kim Kardashian has matched her younger sibling's generosity with a $1 million (£800k) donation to support underprivileged families affected by the pandemic. The money the reality star, entrepreneur and activist is donating will come from the proceeds of the relaunch of her SKIMS shapewear line.
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Bruno Mars
A regular performer at MGM's Park Theater in Las Vegas, Bruno Mars has shown his appreciation to staff at the venue who are currently unable to work by giving $1 million (£800k) to the MGM Resorts Foundation. The cash is supporting employees of the entertainment giant who are struggling to pay rent and bills.
Dolly Parton
On top of lulling children around the world to bed during the crisis with her YouTube storytelling series Goodnight with Dolly, American national treasure Dolly Parton has given $1 million (£800k) to the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation at Vanderbilt University hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, which will bankroll research into a coronavirus vaccine.
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James Taylor
A born-and-bred Bostonian, singer-songwriter James Taylor has donated $1 million (£800k) to the city's Massachusetts General Hospital. The Grammy Award-winning musician made the donation in late March together with his wife Kim, who said in a statement “we are proud to support a medical center that is leading the way on so many fronts”.
Cardi B
After her Instagram coronavirus rant went viral, Cardi B hooked up with online style brand Fashion Nova to give away $1,000 (£800) every hour from 8 April to 20 May to people struggling to pay for rent, bills, medical fees and other expenses. In total the initiative will give away $1 million (£800k). The Bodak Yellow rapper has also paid for 20,000 bottles of vegan supplement drink OYWN for healthcare workers in New York.
Elton John
A long-time supporter of HIV-related causes, Sir Elton John launched a $1 million (£800k) coronavirus relief fund in early April for people living with HIV in marginalised communities around the world. The legendary artist has also hosted a benefit to raise money to fight COVID-19, the iHeart Living Room Concert for America featuring Billie Eilish, Mariah Carey and Dave Grohl, who performed remotely from their respective homes.
Madonna
Madonna's attention and money has been directed towards finding treatments for the disease. The Queen of Pop has provided $1 million (£800k) in funding for the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, a major initiative set up by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in conjunction with Wellcome and MasterCard that is seeking to identify effective treatments and a possible cure.
Roger Federer
As is the case with other big names in our round-up, tennis star Roger Federer is putting his efforts into assisting people and organisations in his home country. Along with his wife Mirka, the 20-time Grand Slam champion has pledged more than $1 million (£800k) to help Switzerland's most vulnerable families.
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Amal and George Clooney
Amal and George Clooney have been busy handing out more than $1 million (£800k) to a number of worthy causes according to Dateline. The philanthropic power couple are supporting six charities and organisations including the Los Angeles Mayors Fund, the UK's NHS and the SAG-AFRA COVID-19 Relief Fund.
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Conor McGregor
Former UFC double champion Conor McGregor has ploughed a considerable proportion of his fortune into providing Ireland's frontline medical staff with decent PPE. On 26 March the mixed martial artist and boxer announced he was donating $1.1 million (£880k) worth of protective equipment to hospitals in the province of Leinster.
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Lionel Messi
Like his fellow FC Barcelona players, Lionel Messi has taken a 70% pay cut, which could end up costing the soccer superstar $50 million (£40m). Despite this, the world's number one footballer has dug deep, having already donated $1.1 million (£880k) to hospitals in the Catalan capital and his hometown of Rosario in Argentina.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has also seen his wages shrink, and he even went as far to suggest that the Portuguese national team give up half of the bonuses received for qualifying for Euro 2020 so that the money could be donated to keep non-professional teams across the country afloat during this difficult time. The Juventus player has donated $1.1 million (£880k) to hospitals too. The money will help fund intensive care units in Lisbon and Porto.
Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has contributed $1.1 million (£880k). The money has gone to the Ángel Soler Daniel foundation, which is part of the medical college in Barcelona, and is being used to buy PPE for frontline healthcare staff. Tragically the Manchester City manager and former FC Barcelona player lost his mother Dolors Sala Carrió to COVID-19 earlier this month.
Jay-Z
Keen to help the worst off and most marginalised in society, Jay-Z initially pledged $1 million (£800k) through his Shawn Carter Foundation to support underprivileged communities during and after the outbreak. The billionaire hip-hop mogul has gone on to team up with Rihanna and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to donate a further $6.2 million (£5bn).
Giorgio Armani
Like other big names in the Italian fashion industry, Giorgio Armani has joined the fight against coronavirus by handing over $2.2 million (£1.8m) to the country's civil protection agency and hospitals in Milan, Rome, Piacenza, Versilia and Bergamo. The iconic designer's namesake company has gone the extra mile too by repurposing its Italian factories to produce medical overalls.
Rachael Ray
Celebrity cook and talkshow host Rachael Ray is pulling out all the stops to help combat COVID-19. The 30 Minute Meals TV personality is giving away $4 million (£3.2m) through her Rachael Ray Foundation and Yum O! Charity to feed vulnerable people, provide financial assistance to laid-off restaurants workers, support animal charities, and more. Ray is also donating four million pet meals to GreaterGood courtesy of her pet food company Nutrish.
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Drew Brees
One of America's most affected states, Louisiana has recorded almost three times as many coronavirus-related deaths than neighbouring Texas, which has more than six times the population. The severity of the pandemic has prompted New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees to donate $5 million (£4m) to charities and organisations working to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in Louisiana.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Laurene Powell Jobs
Famous names including Lady Gaga have been lining up to donate to America's Food Fund, the initiative started by Apple and the Ford Foundation together with Leonardo DiCaprio and Laurene Powell Jobs, who put in $12 million (£9.6m) between them. The fund will support Feeding America and World Central Kitchen.
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Rihanna
Rihanna hasn't held back in her giving towards the crisis. The singer's Clara Lion Foundation has offered $5 million (£4m) in grants to frontline workers as well as $2.1 million (£1.7bn) supporting domestic abuse survivors, on top of a $1 million (£800k) donation and $6.2 million (£5bn) fund co-financed by Jay-Z and Jack Dorsey.
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Paris Hilton and family
Together with her wider family, heiress Paris Hilton is donating a humongous $10 million (£8.1m) to coronavirus relief efforts. Around half the money, which is coming from the Conrad N Hilton Foundation, will go towards assisting the homeless in Los Angeles, while the remaining funds will help African countries better prepare for the pandemic.
Miranda Kerr and Evan Spiegel
Miranda Kerr and Evan Spiegel have been equally magnanimous. The supermodel and her Snapchat billionaire husband have given away $10 million (£8.1m) to a number of charities and organisations in and around the Los Angeles area including Allies for Every Child, Proyecto Pastoral and the Venice Family Clinic.
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Oprah Winfrey
Ditto Oprah Winfrey. Not one to shy away from charitable giving, the Queen of All Media is also putting up $10 million (£8.1m) to "help Americans during this pandemic in cities across the country”. The grand total includes a $1 million (£800k) donation to America's Food Fund, the initiative launched by Leonardi DiCaprio, Laurene Powell Jobs, Apple and Ford.
Ralph Lauren
Leading the fashion world's response to the virus, Ralph Lauren and the clothing company that bears his name have pledged $10 million (£8.1m) as well. The cash will help fund a variety of projects including a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund initiative offering financial support to designers having trouble making ends meet during the crisis.
Bono
Bono has long been renowned for his charitable endeavours and unsurprisingly has also donated to organisations fighting coronavirus. As well as roping in powerful friends like Apple CEO Tim Cook and South Korean president Moon Jae-in to help source PPE, the U2 frontman has got together with his bandmates to donate $11 million (£8.7m) to Ireland's healthcare workers.
Duke of Westminster
The richest person in the world under 30, Hugh Grosvenor, 7th Duke of Westminster, has dipped into his immense fortune to donate a whopping $15.5 million (£12.5m) to the UK's National Health Service (NHS). The aristocratic landowner was inspired to make Britain's biggest personal donation to fight COVID-19 after feeling humbled by the heroic work of the health service's frontline staff.
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Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan
Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have handed out $36 million (£29m) so far to charities and organisations battling the pandemic. Their many donations include $25 million (£20m) to the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, $5 million (£4m) to relief organisations in the Bay Area and $4 million (£3.2m) towards disease testing.
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Michael Bloomberg
Hot on the heels of launching a scheme to help mayors respond better to the pandemic, Michael Bloomberg has invested $40 million (£32.1m) in a global initiative to fight COVID-19 in vulnerable low and middle-income countries. Still, the donation falls way short of the estimated $900 million (£722m) the media magnate and politician splurged on his failed bid to become the Democratic Party presidential nominee.
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Michael Dell
Michael Dell is donating a tidy $100 million (£80m) towards coronavirus relief efforts, the sort of cash gift only a billionaire could muster. The funds are being distributed by the computer tycoon's charitable foundation, with $20 million (£16m) going to the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator and the rest earmarked for charities, educational organisations and small businesses.
Jeff Bezos
Countless businesses are floundering during the lockdown, but with demand for online shopping soaring, Amazon stock has climbed to record highs, making the boss of the e-commence giant even richer. Jeff Bezos isn't keeping all the extra cash to himself though. The world's wealthiest individual has given Feeding America $100 million (£80m), money that will help to ensure Americans aren't left to go hungry.
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Bill and Melinda Gates
Deep-pocketed philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates have now pledged a staggering $250 million (£200m) to tackle the global COVID-19 pandemic, having upped their original donation by an additional $150 million (£120m). The money is helping to fund the treatment-focused COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, which the couple's foundation set up alongside Mastercard and Wellcome, as well as virus testing and food assistance in low and middle-income countries.
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Jack Dorsey
The most staggeringly generous donation of them all is hands-down the $1 billion (£800m) Twitter co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey has pledged to help fight the outbreak. The eye-watering sum of money, which represents 28% of the tech billionaire's net worth, will be spent on supporting education, women's health and universal basic income projects.
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