Who is Bill Gates?
He is the co-founder and chairman of Microsoft. He was the largest individual shareholder in Microsoft. He owned 6% of the common stock, but sold and gifted most.
He stepped down as Microsoft’s CEO in 2000. Then he started working full-time at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Gates co-founded Microsoft in 1975 together with Paul Allen. Gates and Paul Allen became the world’s richest persons. Paul Allen died in 2018 due to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Microsoft became the world’s largest software maker.
How Much is Bill Gates Worth?
People often ask: how much is Gates worth and how much money does he have? He is often referred to as the richest man in the world. He has an estimated net worth of $132 billion.
Now and then he loses the position of the world’s richest man to Jeff Bezos. This is following fluctuations in either Microsoft or Amazon.com share prices.
Philanthropy
His Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest charitable foundation in the world. The aims of the foundation are to enhance healthcare. And to reduce extreme poverty. And to expand educational opportunities and to expand access to information technology.
Gates has funded his foundation with more than US$ 2 billion. In 2006 Warren Buffet donated US$ 1.5 billion to the Gates foundation. The assets of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation exceed US$ 30 billion. Yearly donations are worth more than US$ 1.5 billion.
The Giving Pledge
The Bill and Melinda Gates together with billionaire Warren Buffet started The Giving Pledge. It is a philanthropic initiative aiming to get the world’s billionaires to pledge their fortunes early in their lives. So that they can have more control over how it’s spent.
In the few years since it was launched, the giving pledge has recruited more than 100 billionaires. Including the Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Intel Chairman Gordon Moore, and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Other Investments
More than half of his assets are outside his holding of Microsoft shares. He holds these other investments through his Cascade Investment LLC. This company owns shares in Berkshire Hathaway, Coca Cola, and Femsa. And also Carpetright, Four Seasons Hotels and Waste Management. And many other investments.
Bill Gates Age
He was born on October 28, 1955, so his age is 65 years. Bill and Melinda have three children: Jennifer Katharine, Rory and Phoebe Gates.
Melinda Gates
Bill’s ex-wife Melinda is a former Microsoft executive. They met in 1987 at a fair trade in New York. They married in 1994. They have 3 children: Jennifer Katharine Gates (1996), Phoebe Adele Gates (2002), and Rory John Gates (1999). In 1996 she left Microsoft to focus on starting and raising her family.
Melinda is heading the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The couple has donated more than US$ 25 billion to the foundation.
Melinda is also a writer of books. This is what Bill wrote about her latest book: “@melindafrenchgates’ new book is out today. Melinda writes that one of the most important things she has learned in her work is that you must “let your heart break; it’s the price of being present to someone who is suffering.” Your heart will break more than once when you read this book. But more often, you will be enlightened and inspired. I know I certainly was! #MomentofLift
Separation
In May 2021 Bill and Melinda announced their separation, after 27 years of marriage. In a joint statement, they explained that they “no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives.” They will continue to work together on their Foundation.
Divorce
Their divorce was confirmed in August 2021
Jennifer Gates
Jennifer Katharine Gates is Gates’ oldest daughter. She was born in 1996. She is an established equestrian. She attended Seattle’s private Lakeside High School and later Stanford University. Her father bought her an equestrian property in Wellington Florida.
