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Kazakh businessman Aydin Rakhimbayev, co-founder of BI Group, and his wife Anar have officially joined the international initiative The Giving Pledge. This global movement encourages billionaires to dedicate the majority of their wealth to charitable endeavors.

What is The Giving Pledge?

Founded in 2010 by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett, The Giving Pledge aims to inspire billionaires to direct their fortunes towards solving the world's most pressing issues. Over the past 16 years, approximately 250 billionaires from 30 countries have joined, including prominent figures like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Richard Branson. Now, a Kazakh family is among them.

Who is Aydin Rakhimbayev?

According to Forbes Kazakhstan's 2026 ranking, Rakhimbayev is listed as the 9th wealthiest businessman in Kazakhstan, with an estimated fortune of $1.1 billion. This year also marked his debut on the global Forbes billionaires list, securing the 3185th position. Rakhimbayev is a key shareholder in the BI Group investment and construction holding. In 2025, the company completed 2.4 million square meters of housing, positioning it among the world's largest developers. BI Group operates in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the USA, and the UAE, and has announced plans to enter the Azerbaijani market.

Their Philanthropic Commitment

In their letter on The Giving Pledge website, the Rakhimbayevs shared their humble beginnings, originating from small villages with modest family circumstances. They articulated their perspective on wealth: "My wife and I both come from very simple families, growing up in small villages. We worked tirelessly from a young age to build capital. Over time, we came to an important realization: capital is not the goal, but a tool. Its true value is determined by its impact on changing people's lives and developing society."

They further elaborated on their decision: "We commit to dedicating more than half of our wealth (approximately $600 million, or 276 billion tenge, according to the latest data) to philanthropy throughout our lives. Our success is the result of hard work, education, and trust. However, we are incredibly fortunate: our family gave us strength, our country provided opportunities, and society placed its trust in us – all of which formed the foundation of our prosperous lives. Therefore, we consider it our duty to give back to society by supporting those most in need."

Three Pillars of Their Philanthropy

The Rakhimbayevs outlined three specific areas of focus in their commitment letter.

Firstly, they aim for broad impact, combining international best practices from Giving Pledge participants with local initiatives to address global social issues.

Secondly, they are focused on creating opportunities: "The best thing we can do for our children is to change the world around them. We want to leave behind not money as an inheritance, but knowledge and opportunities that will endure for decades, even centuries."

Thirdly, they aspire to foster a culture of giving, inspiring other members of the business community towards conscious philanthropy.

Rakhimbayev is the initiator of the "Mothers' Homes" network, a project designed to prevent children from ending up in orphanages. He also supports the IQanat educational project, which aims to provide quality education to children in rural areas. These two initiatives currently support over 230 entrepreneurs and have been discussed at Harvard Business School. Alongside the BI Group team, Rakhimbayev has facilitated funding for complex surgeries for hundreds of children, engaging world-class medical professionals.

"I am currently 53 years old. My wife has always been by my side, supporting me in every endeavor. Our wealth today is the result of 30 years of hard work with the BI Group team. By joining The Giving Pledge, we find much more meaning than just developing our business, as it allows us to do even more good in the second half of our lives," Rakhimbayev stated.