Microsoft founder Bill Gates would like to immediately transfer about 20 billion US dollars (about 20 billion euros) to his foundation. “I intend to give virtually my entire fortune to the foundation. I will slide down the list of the richest people in the world and eventually disappear entirely,” the 66-year-old wrote on Twitter.
On his blog, Gates explained that the $20 billion would increase the Gates Foundation’s annual budget to $9 billion. He founded the foundation with his ex-wife Melinda. “I don’t consider giving this money away as a sacrifice,” Gates wrote. The amount should be transferred later this month.
Bill Gates, who founded what later became the IT giant Microsoft along with Paul Allen in 1975, is considered one of the richest people in the world. According to Forbes magazine, the 65-year-old is said to be worth more than 102 billion US dollars (which currently corresponds to around 100 billion euros). That puts him fifth on the global super-rich list. He led this for many years.