Published June 23. 2021 6:56PM Aaron Gregg, The Washington Post Warren Buffett, the legendary financier and Berkshire Hathaway chairman, says he reached a crucial milestone: He's officially given away half of his company shares to charitable causes. On Wednesday, Buffett earmarked a $4.1 billion distribution for five foundations, bringing him closer to his 2006 pledge to give away all of his Berkshire stock, or 99% of his net worth at the time. He has donated about $41 billion so far. In a lengthy note published early Wednesday morning, he also said he was resigning from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, noting that he has been an "inactive trustee" for years. He did not provide a reason for his decision or mention the pending divorce of its namesake founders, which has raised questions about the Seattle-based philanthropy's future.