Given the recent announcement that Warren Buffett plans to give away 85% of his $44 billion fortune, I have to admit to being a little bit jealous.

First, bravo to both Buffett and Gates for their generosity. The number 1 and 2 richest people in the world plan to give away most of their money. That's just amazing. Truly amazing.

The jealousy comes from not being able to do the same myself. I wish I could someday be in a position to make an enormous difference to the world. The Gates Foundation is not only the largest charity in the world, but also is apparently making an enormous difference in the causes it supports. And, after reading Buffett's letters (to the Gates Foundation and his kids' foundations), it's apparent that Buffett wants his money to do the most good it can too.

Honestly, the saddest thing about Gates and Buffett giving away their money is that the people who follow them on the list are not likely to do the same. Can you imagine the self-absorbed Larry Ellison doing the same?

Even Paul Allen, Gates former business partner, seems to be more absorbed with sports teams, yachts, and venture capital investing than charity.

So I kind of wish that their charitable donations didn't count against their net worth, so that two deserving men still sat at the top of the list for many more years to come.