Fact check: What is the total amount George Soros has donated through Open Society Foundations?

1. Summary of the results

The total amount George Soros has donated through Open Society Foundations is reported to be over $32 billion by multiple sources, including Wikipedia ^[1], Philanthropy News Digest ^[2], and the Open Society Foundations website ^{[3] [4]}. These sources also mention that a significant portion of this amount has already been distributed, with Wikipedia ^[1] stating that $15 billion has been distributed, and Philanthropy News Digest ^[2] reporting that total grants awarded total $14 billion. The Open Society Foundations website ^{[3] [4]} and other sources ^[2] also note that in 2017, Soros transferred $18 billion to the OSF, bringing his total giving to the Foundations since 1984 to over $32 billion ^[3]. Other sources, such as the Open Society Foundations website ^{[5] [6]}, provide information on various grants and fellowship opportunities, as well as news items and press releases related to the foundation's work, but do not provide a total amount donated ^{[5] [6]}. Additionally, some sources report on specific donations, such as a $100 million challenge grant to Human Rights Watch ^[7].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some sources, such as the Open Society Foundations website ^{[5] [6]}, do not provide a total amount donated by George Soros, instead focusing on specific grants, fellowship opportunities, and news items ^{[5] [6]}. Other sources, like the one reporting on the $100 million challenge grant to Human Rights Watch ^[7], provide information on specific donations, but do not offer a comprehensive overview of Soros' total donations. Furthermore, the sources provided do not offer alternative viewpoints or criticisms of Soros' donations or the Open Society Foundations, which could provide a more nuanced understanding of the topic ^{[1] [2] [3] [5] [6] [7] [4]}. It is also worth noting that the sources cited are primarily from the Open Society Foundations website, Wikipedia, and Philanthropy News Digest, which may have a positive bias towards Soros and his philanthropic efforts ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement asks for the total amount George Soros has donated through Open Society Foundations, which may be seen as a neutral question. However, the lack of context and alternative viewpoints in the sources provided may contribute to a biased understanding of the topic, with some sources potentially presenting Soros' donations in a more positive light ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}. Additionally, the repetition of the $32 billion figure across multiple sources ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} may create an impression of consensus, while alternative viewpoints or criticisms of Soros' donations are not presented. This could potentially benefit Soros and the Open Society Foundations by creating a positive public image, while also potentially benefiting the sources themselves, such as Wikipedia and the Open Society Foundations website, by increasing their credibility and reputation ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}.