Photo: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg/Getty
Bill Gateswill no longer be on the list of the world’s wealthiest people.
On Wednesday, the Microsoft co-founder, 66, announced onTwitterand in ablog postthat he plans to transfer $20 billion of his personal wealth into theBill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s endowment this month.
“I will move down and eventually off of the list of the world’s richest people,” Gates shared in his blog post. “My giving this money is not a sacrifice at all. I feel privileged to be involved in tackling these great challenges.”
He continued, “I believe I have an obligation to return my resources to society in ways that have the greatest impact for improving lives.”
The additional funds will be used to support the foundation’s causes including fighting poverty, diseases and inequity around the world.
Gates also opened up about his financial future in the blog post.
“My plan is to give all my wealth to the foundation other than what I spend on myself and my family,” he wrote. “I do some giving and investing in U.S. health care issues, including Alzheimer’s, outside the foundation. Through Breakthrough Energy, I will continue to invest and give money to address climate change. Overall I expect that the work in these areas will make money, which will also go to the foundation.”
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Melinda French Gates, Bill Gates.KAMIL ZIHNIOGLU/AFP via Getty
Gates is currently ranked as the world’s fourth-richest person with an estimated $113 billion net worth, according toBloomberg’s Billionaires Index.
In 2010, the tech entrepreneur and his ex-wife — whodivorcedin 2021 — alongside Warren Buffett createdThe Giving Pledgein which “40 of America’s wealthiest people made a commitment to give the majority of their wealth to address some of society’s most pressing problems,” according to its website.
source: people.com
