Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has revealed that his children will inherit less than 1% of his vast fortune, emphasizing the importance of earning their own success.
Speaking on the Figuring Out With Raj Shamani podcast, Gates explained that his children have already benefited from an excellent upbringing and education, and he wants them to build their own paths rather than depend on inherited wealth.
With a net worth of $162 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, even 1% of his fortune would still amount to over a billion dollars. Despite this, Gates remains committed to philanthropy, dedicating most of his wealth to global health, poverty reduction, and education through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
“It’s not a dynasty, I’m not asking them to run Microsoft. I want to give them a chance to have their own earnings and success,” he stated.
Gates went on to explain that his decision was driven by a desire to ensure his children are not overshadowed by the “incredible luck and good fortune” he experienced.
“You don’t want your kids to ever be confused about your support for them and your love for them. So I do think explaining early on your philosophy: that you’re going to treat them all equally and that you’re going to give them incredible opportunities, but that the highest calling for these resources is to go back to the neediest through the foundation,” Gates said.
