Bill Gates shares fresh figures on the amount his philanthropic organization has spent toward the conclusion of our talk in trying to lower poverty and fight avoidable diseases. Over the years, his steadfast dedication to Bill Gates’ philanthropy has
“I have more to give even though I have given over 100 billion,” he says.
To be clear, those are dollars worth about ÂŁ80 billion. It is about equal to the cost of building the whole HS2 railway line or the scale of the Bulgarian economy. In perspective, though, it also matches one year of Tesla’s sales.
Originally the richest man on the earth, Gates had that status for many years; today, Elon Musk holds that rank. Gates is matching his billions through the foundation he first established with his now ex-wife, Melinda, along with fellow philanthropist Warren Buffett.
Why Does Bill Gates See Philanthropy as Important?
Gates claims that he was taught charity early on. Regular reminders from his mother that “with wealth came the responsibility to give it away.”
The $100 billion number was supposed to be revealed in May for the 25th anniversary of the foundation. He chose, nonetheless, to reveal it early. He says he enjoys sharing his riches with about $60 billion of his fortune already set aside for the foundation. Bill Gates has concentrated his charity on poverty alleviation, education, and world health.
He claims he doesn’t see any difference in his daily way of life. “I did not personally make any sacrifices. I watched less movies or placed less orders for hamburgers. He still can afford his jet and his several opulent homes, of course.
Though he intends to donate “the vast majority” of his wealth, he has spent much time discussing the appropriate leaving amount with his three children.
“Will they be poor once you’re gone?” someone asks.
“They won’t,” he says, flashing a brief smile. “They will perform great in absolute terms. Percentage-wise, it’s not a very large figure.
Gates is a statistics person, and it comes over. Even leaving a little fraction to one’s offspring leads to great riches if one’s net worth is $160 billion.
What turned Bill Gates into a tech pioneer?
The interview takes place in his childhood in a modern, mid-century Seattle four-bedroom house atop a hill. Kristi and Libby, his sisters, accompany him as the three siblings eagerly tour their childhood home. The present owners have renovated it; they haven’t returned in years. Luckily, the Gates siblings support the modifications.
Recollections abound, one concerning the now-long-gone intercom system connecting rooms her mother used to wake them up in the morning. Gates remembers, chuckling, “She would sing to us.”
Mary Gates also adjusted their clocks and watches eight minutes fast to keep the family running on her calendar. Gates now muses, “The crucible of my ambition was warmed through that relationship,” even if he often rebelled against her attempts to shape him.
He credits his grandmother, “Gami,” who spent much time with the family and taught him how to outsmart rivals using games of cards, for his competitive attitude.
In childhood, what was Bill Gates like?
Gates descends the wooden stairs to find his old childhood bedroom in the basement. Now, it is a clean guest room; it was previously his refuge where he spent hours—sometimes days—thinking. His sisters remember how their mother, annoyed by his untidy room, seized any clothes on the floor and charged 25 cents to return them.
“I started wearing less clothing,” he smiles.
He was already hooked on programming by then. He got access to a nearby company’s computer in return for reporting any issues by some tech-savvy schoolmates. Driven by programming, he even crept out of the house late at night for more computer time.
He asks, “Do you think you could do it now?”
Gates opens the window after undoing the catch. He says, “It’s not that hard,” climbing out. “This is not difficult at all.”
Does Bill Gates have neurodivergent tendencies?
Gates just came clean for the first time that, if he were growing up today, he probably would have an autistic diagnosis.
He hardly made eye contact and conducted minimal small conversation during his first interview ten years ago. He now admits his compulsive tendencies, lack of social awareness, and hyperfocusing ability.
Having written to area companies for brochures and yearly reports, he turned in a 177-page report about Delaware at elementary school. He was eleven years old.
His sisters knew he was unique always. His older sister Kristi remembers being watchful of her brother. “He was not a typical youngster… He would be there in his room chewing pencils down to the lead.
Therapist Libby was not surprised when he said he thought he fell on the spectrum. “The surprise was more his willing to say ‘this might be the case.'”
Gates says, “The positive characteristics of my career have been more beneficial than the deficits have been a problem for me.” He has not sought an official diagnosis.
He also thinks that Silicon Valley is “certainly” underrepresented in neurodiversity. “Learning something in great detail at a young age helps you in certain complicated subjects.”
Referring to Asperger’s syndrome, Elon Musk has also openly said he falls on the spectrum.
How Does Gates See Politics and Social Media?
Recently, Gates had a three-hour meal with a well-known politician since “he’s making decisions about global health and how we help poor countries, which is a big focus of mine now.”
He expresses his worries when asked about social media businesses forsaking fact-checking. “I’m not impressed by how governments or private businesses navigate the limits between free speech and truth.”
“I’m worried that we’re not handling that as well as we should; I don’t know how you draw that line.”
Children should, he further thinks, be shielded from social media. “Banning under-16s, as Australia is doing, has a good chance to be a wise move.”
He cautions, “Social networking, even more than video gaming, can absorb your time and make you worry about other people approving you.” “We have to be quite cautious about its usage.”
What would have happened if Bill Gates had never gone to private school?
Gates’ beginning narrative does not follow rags to riches. Although his father was a lawyer and money wasn’t tight, “a stretch, even on my father’s salary,” decided to send him to a private school.
Had they not, Bill Gates might never have been known to the world.
Funded by a jumble sale set by the moms, his access to an early mainframe computer came through a teletype machine at the institution. Though Gates and three friends used it day and night, the teachers couldn’t figure it out. “We got to use computers when practically nobody else did.” The scope of Bill Gates’ generosity today could never have been possible.
Gates is now a writer as well. His viewpoint?
“Most of who you are was there from the beginning.”