BILL GATES is one of the richest and most famous men in the world.
Here, we look at how he made his money, and his other interests.
Who is Bill Gates?
Bill Gates is the founder of Microsoft.
In 2000, he and his then-wife Melinda Gates worked together to form the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the largest charitable foundations in the world with an endowment of $50billion.
Bill Gates stepped down from the board of Microsoft on March 13, 2020, nearly 45 years after he founded the company with Paul Allen and 20 years after he stepped down as CEO in 2000.
Gates grew up in Seattle, Washington with his two sisters and parents. He started Microsoft with Paul Allen after dropping out of college.
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What is Bill Gates net worth?
As of May 2021, Gates' net worth was estimated at roughly more than $130.5billion, according to Forbes.
Forbes highlights:
- Bill Gates co-chairs the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest private charitable foundation.
- In May 2020, the Gates Foundation said it would spend $300 million to fight the coronavirus pandemic, funding treatment, detection and vaccines.
- Gates has sold or given away much of his stake in Microsoft — he owns just over 1% of shares — and invested in a mix of stocks and other assets.
- To date, Gates has donated $35.8 billion worth of Microsoft stock to the Gates Foundation.
Is Bill Gates the richest person in the world?
Last year, the 64-year-old became the world's second-richest person – with a measly $124billion fortune – as he stepped down from Microsoft's board to focus on their charitable endeavors.
He's currently the fourth richest man in the world.
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Although he's given $50 billion to charity since 1994, Gates is earning money at a faster rate than he's donated it, according to reports.
After news of Bill and Melinda Gates' bombshell divorce, the Gates fortune has been called into question because a lot of it has not been given to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation headed by the couple.
Like Tesla CEO Elon Musk, some of Gates' biggest splurges have been on the property, recently purchasing an oceanfront colossus near San Diego, California.
He also owns a string of luxury cars, however, including pricey Porsches but it's unclear how the Gates fortune will be split now that they're getting divorced.
Melinda was a high-powered Microsoft executive before meeting and marrying Bill and going on to have three kids with him, Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe.
She formalized the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 and the couple has forked out $45 billion addressing major global issues, like gender equality and poverty.
What does the Gates Foundation do?
Gates has so often topped charts as the richest person in the world that it's strange to think he could be much, much richer.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (often shortened to simply Gates Foundation) was formed in 2000, with the aim of enhancing healthcare and reducing poverty across the globe.
Gates, a renowned philanthropist, has donated tens of billions to the foundation, and has recently pledged almost £30 million to a project to create"super cows".
It is hoped that the research into high-yielding dairy cows, chickens that lay better eggs and disease-resistant "super crops" will help farmers across the globe.
The project, which is backed by the Gates Foundation and the UK's Department for International Development, aims to help the poorest agricultural workers across areas like Africa and Sou
Is Bill Gates planning on leaving any of his fortunes to his family?
Bill has been more forthright in the past about how he plans to leave his children slightly smaller pieces of his fortune, comparitively speaking at least.
When asked about rumors that he would only leave his three children — Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe — $10million each during a Reddit AMA session in 2013, Gates explained that it was for their benefit.
"I definitely think leaving kids massive amounts of money is not a favor to them," he said.
"Warren Buffett was part of an article in Fortune talking about this in 1986 before I met him and it made me think about it and decide he was right."
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