Bill Gates’ net worth plunges $51 billion as his philanthropy ramps up

Bill Gates fortune has dropped a staggering $51 billion in just days as he accelerates his charitable giving, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index. Once the worlds richest man, Gates now ranks 12th on the index, with his net worth falling to $124 billion from $175 billion earlier this month. Among those who have surpassed him is his former Microsoft colleague, Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, now the worlds fifth-richest person with $173 billion. Tesla founder Elon Musk tops the list at $360 billion. Gates shrinking wealth is largely due to his pledge not to die rich. In May, he revealed plans to give away 99% of his fortune over the next two decades, with the Gates Foundationcreated with his former wife Melindaset to close on December 31, 2045. People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that he died rich will not be one of them, Gates wrote in a recent blog post. There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people. He said the decision was influenced by witnessing his foundations impact in delivering vaccines for treatable illnesses like diarrhea and pneumonia, which continue to claim lives in poorer countries. It also comes at a time when the U.S. and Europe have reduced foreign aid amid global conflicts. Despite his diminishing net worth, Gates remains firm in his commitment. As of the latest estimate, his fortune had slipped further to around $123 billion. Gates and Melinda established the Gates Foundation in 2000, which has since become one of the worlds largest charitable organizations, reportedly distributing over $100 billion to various causes. The post Bill Gates net worth plunges $51 billion as his philanthropy ramps up appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.