South Dakota businessman T. Denny Sanford is tied for third on the annual ranking of the 50 most-generous Americans as compiled by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Sanford, 72, chairman of First Premier Bank, Premier Bankcard and United National Corporation, all in Sioux Falls, made charitable commitments totaling $474.6 million last year, the Chronicle reports in the new list.

He's tied for third with George Soros, chairman of Soros Fund Management in New York.

Ahead of them on the list are hotel mogul William Barron Hilton ($1.2 billion committed) and chemical company owner Jon M. Huntsman Sr. and his wife, Karen ($750 million).

Sanford's 2007 giving included a pledge of $400 million to the Sanford Health Foundation to establish 20 children's health clinics.