02/ 8/2004

Interview: Bill Gates making of money coincides with its giving

Post @ 05:33 in Interview/Review

Guardian Unlimited recently has an interview with Bill Gates who is a Chairman of Microsoft Corp. Article said Bill Gates is the world's wealthiest man and history's most generous philanthropist.

No doubt, he knows money, Mr. Gates makes millions everyday and his company Microsoft expends business every second. The whole world people are jealous of him and his wealth. We are making our eyes on the money but nothing. Just a few people know he is the world's most generous philanthropist. I am not saying he is good or not. But we can not turn a blind eye to his huge contribute in charity.

Mr. Gates and his wife found a foundation called "The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation"; the foundation is 10 times the size of Rockefeller's (oil monopoly in 20 century) charitable foundation and three times of Henry Ford's. His wife spends most of time in India to help poor people. Also, Mr. Gates has pledged to give away his 95% ($46bn) fortune before he dies to help the world's poorest countries.

As one of technology's most devout missionaries, Gates is surprisingly restrained in preaching the benefits of computer literacy. Bill says "When I'm at IT conferences and people say the most important thing in the world is to get people connected to the internet, I say: 'Are you kidding me? Have you been to poor countries?'". That's true, Web Technology is helping people to acquire information and enhance personal communication, but in developing countries the most important thing is not get online, they need food and blankets, they thirst for dress warmly and ear their fill.

Reversal of fortune

In a typical week, he spends up to 60 hours working on Microsoft business and 10 on the foundation. His charitable work is not just about grand gestures. He tells a story about helping his four-year-old son Rory on a small-scale volunteer project. "We were putting together these kits for homeless people - you know, where you put in the toothbrush and toothpaste- and Rory says: 'This is really nice, Dad, but if these people are homeless, why don't we give them homes?' "It's kind of a good question." He breaks into laughter. "We told him: 'A home costs a little more, but basically you're right!'"