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Bill Gates convinces 40 Billionaires to give away half their fortunes to charity

Pretty amazing.

Our favorite charity-worker Bill Gates has successfully signed up 38 billionaires to give away half of their wealth to those less fortunate, in what could be the largest-scale philanthropic work ever.

Together with Warren Buffett, their "The Giving Pledge" project nabbed Larry Ellison (founder of Oracle), George Lucas, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Barry Diller from IAC (an internet media company that owns Ask.com, Bloglines, Vimeo, Match.com and others), along with many others.

While they're not legally bound to give away at least 50 per cent of their wealth to charity, it's more of a trust-promise—particularly now that it's been reported all over the media. They're not expected to give their notes to any one charity, but if every single person on the Forbes 400 richest American list signed up to The Giving Pledge, that would mean charities would be $600 billion better off. Presumably some of those charities will be green-focused, considering Gates' obvious passion in that field. [WSJ]

http://gizmodo.com/5604368/bill-gates-convinces-40-billionaires-to-give-away-half-their-fortunes

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Reply 1

asdalol

Read this in the morning, didn't he say he'd give away 99% of his wealth or something to charity after he dies?

Reply 2

Splodger

Not something I'd do to be honest, I worked hard for the money you think I'm giving it to some cheap charity **** no. Saying that I'd throw some money at Help For Heroes and maybe Cancer research but the rest could piss off.

Reply 3

Cesare Borgia

Oh ffs what kind of prick is this man? I want my billionaires building secret island bases, playing in shady Casino Royale style poker games, financing coups, blowing up the moon and that kind of stuff. Not throwing their money at povos (who'll just piss it up the wall) so they can look good.

Reply 4

unknownking321

That chap's a top bloke. :yes:

Reply 5

Koenig

Splodger

what about the help the homeless dog ones?

Reply 6

miike1234

How has Obama got a Nobel Peace prize but not Bill Gates??

Reply 7

deathbeforeimmortality

I'd do the same after I die or something.

Reply 8

thegaffer91

Wow. Their kids must be pissed

Reply 9

Aj12

Someone please call G doctor Im sure he would love to see this.

Reply 10

Bunkd

Cesare Borgia

Cesare you're my man again!
However, more seriously, they should be investing in nuclear fusion, nanotechnology, etc. etc. Instead of trying to aid overpopulation by eradicating our friend malaria.

Reply 11

SlackBackLazy

asdalol

Read this in the morning, didn't he say he'd give away 99% of his wealth or something to charity after he dies?

yeah something like that, someone was telling me he's giving away as much money as he legally can, he has to give some to his children

Reply 12

username301959

miike1234

How has Obama got a Nobel Peace prize but not Bill Gates??

Even worse, how did Al Gore manage to get one?

It's nice to see these acts of generosity. I always thought charity began at home.

Reply 13

ggonex26

It's good that they are helping out, it will generate alot of money. But in my opinion i'd find it harder to give away £500 if i only had a grand to my name than giving away 10 billion if i had another 10 billion left to play with.

Reply 14

Broderss

It's only right he does something good with his money after scamming us all through Microsoft.

Reply 15

im so academic

Bunkd

Cesare you're my man again!
However, more seriously, they should be investing in nuclear fusion, nanotechnology, etc. etc. Instead of trying to aid overpopulation by eradicating our friend malaria.

This.

$600 billion would let everyone on this earth have sufficient energy - forever.

Tbh, that would even get people out of poverty. :rolleyes:

Reply 16

miike1234

SlackBackLazy

yeah something like that, someone was telling me he's giving away as much money as he legally can, he has to give some to his children

As much as he legally can?? It's his money he can do what he wants with it, he can give away 100%. When have you ever heard of the law that says you have to leave at least 1% of you worth to your children??!

He doesn't want his kids to be overly spoilt so he's leaving them either $10m or $100m, thinks it's $100m each. So enough money to be comfortable but not enough that they can do/buy what ever they want.

Reply 17

im so academic

Broderss

It's only right he does something good with his money after scamming us all through Microsoft.

Good point.

Windows Vista - :rant:

Reply 18

Cesare Borgia

Bunkd

Cesare you're my man again!
However, more seriously, they should be investing in nuclear fusion, nanotechnology, etc. etc. Instead of trying to aid overpopulation by eradicating our friend malaria.

Exactly, life is fleeting, but with modern communications science accumulates.

Reply 19

mart2306

Right, first question, how do I get my hands on this money? Well, some of it anyway. :smile:

Second question, who pays the money exchange rates fees, them or me?
Loverly money.......

Can do so much with it.

Third question, why do Americans copy us? Our billionaire (Tom Hunter?) has been doing this a while. Mrs Murray set up the Volant Charitable Trust to deal with some of her donations - gets some money in these days as JK Rowling.
More than a few rich people here have pledged over the years to give to charity. Possibly to get my kind of person off their backs about it but we're good. :smile:

I can see a few training courses on how to access this money coming up very soon......