The richest man in the world gave the largest charitable donation ever this weekend. The $6 billion gift, given by Microsoft CEO Bill Gates to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, brings the assets of that foundation to a lofty $17.1 billion.

As reported previously in WinInfo, Gates plans on doling out the majority of his wealth during his lifetime, focusing on gifts that will solve global health and education problems. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation receives the majority of these gifts.

"Bill and Melinda have made a gift of about $5 billion every quarter," says Foundation chairperson Patty Stonesifer.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the second wealthiest in the world, temporarily surpassed only by the Wellcome Trust, in London, which has assets of $19.2 billion.