Bill Gates shares a striking new figure on his philanthropic contributions: over $100 billion dedicated to fighting poverty and preventing disease.
“I have given away over $100 billion,” he states, adding, “But I still have more to give.”To put that into perspective, that sum is roughly equivalent to the entire Bulgarian economy or the cost of completing the HS2 rail project.
Yet, it also happens to be close to what Tesla generates in sales in a single year a company owned by Elon Musk, who now holds the title of the world’s richest person, a position Gates himself once occupied.
Gates’ philanthropic journey has been intertwined with fellow billionaire Warren Buffett through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he originally founded alongside his now ex-wife, Melinda French Gates.
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His approach to giving was shaped early on, thanks to his mother’s lessons on wealth and responsibility. “She always reminded me that having money meant having a duty to give back,” he reflects.
With the Foundation marking its 25th anniversary this May, Gates chose this moment to reveal the $100 billion milestone in an exclusive interview. He estimates that so far, about $60 billion of his personal fortune has gone into the foundation’s efforts.
Despite his vast donations, Gates insists that his personal life hasn’t changed much. “I made no real sacrifices,” he admits. “I did not cut back on burgers or movies.” Of course, his lifestyle still includes private jets and multiple lavish homes.
What’s his long-term plan? His long-term plan is to give away the vast majority of his fortune. However, he has invested a significant amount of his wealth. He smiles and says, “They will not be poor,” in response to the question of whether they might struggle financially after his death.
