Netflix Co-Founder Reed Hastings Donates $1.1 Billion in Shares to Charity Favored by Tech Billionaires

By Jace Dela Cruz

Jan 30, 2024 12:25 AM EST

Netflix co-founder and executive chairman Reed Hastings has recently donated two million shares of his holdings in the streaming giant. 

2019 New York Times Dealbook
(Photo : Mike Cohen/Getty Images for The New York Times)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 06: Reed Hastings, founder, Netflix speaks onstage at 2019 New York Times Dealbook on November 06, 2019 in New York City.

Reed Hastings' Netflix Stock

According to CNBC, the current value of this generous gift exceeds $1.1 billion, as indicated by a recent SEC filing without the beneficiary's name. However, Deadline reported that the recipient of this significant gift is the Mountain View, California-based Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

The foundation reportedly had $10 billion in assets after gifts from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other technology founders. The Wall Street Journal reported that the charity is popular with tech founders as it gives them tax breaks and privacy. 

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Reed Hastings, with a net worth of $6.6 billion, possesses a substantial portion of his wealth in Netflix stock. The donation is equivalent to approximately 40% of Hastings' direct holdings and was disclosed in the regulatory filing on Friday. 

READ NEXT: Netflix Stocks Climb as Subscriber Gains Break Wall Street's Expectations 

Reed Hastings' Philanthropic Engagements

According to CNBC, Reed Hastings has a history of engaging in philanthropy. He introduced a donation of $120 million to two historically Black colleges and universities in 2020, along with the United Negro College Fund.

Hastings still holds under three million Netflix shares, with an approximate value of $1.7 billion. His long-standing association with Netflix has earned him multiple sets of options, which he has historically sold over time, netting roughly $2 billion in those sales.

Hastings maintains his role as the executive chairman of Netflix. However, the company has no obligation to divulge the specific reasons for this donation or disclose the recipient's identity. According to CNBC, Netflix shares are up almost 23% year to date but are still about 16% below their 2021 high.

READ MORE: Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Are in Early Talks to Merge: Report

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