Time will tell whether this is a true giving or a tax avoidance scheme.

I really like the new trend of billionaires pushing and encouraging each other to donate most of their fortunes to charity. Seems like Bill Gates got the ball rolling. Well done, Mr Gates!

Of course these are tax dodges. Bill Gates donated most of his wealth to his own foundation. As reported by news outlets, this allows avoidance of capital gains from stock holdings, and allows write offs for the donation. Most of these foundations are set up as LLC's and not as nonprofits. This is where Zuckerberg is donating his money. This allows them to control the money and pay for personal expenses and not require them to spend a mandatory minimum on charity.

Taking advantage of a tax saving mechanism is not illegal. It takes money to do charitable work and the people of the United States have decided that we value dollar donations that ultimately help other people by reducing tax burdens to the giver. If donations were discouraged, then a huge amount of the research and treatments/remedies that are funded by these donations would instead be borne from government spending, thereby raising taxes.

This amount of money, even spread throughout decades of charitable donations, is meaningful. I applaud Zuckerberg for being yet another role model for the richest among us.

It's hard to call this a donation since he putting money in a corporation that he controls. So how is this charity. He doesn't have to spend a dime of this money since it is not regulated like a non profit charity