Bill Gates, a long-standing member of the world’s wealthiest individuals, has recently slipped out of the top 10 billionaires list. According to Forbes’ latest ranking, Gates’ net worth sits at $107 billion, placing him ninth among American billionaires and twelfth globally. This marks the end of his three-decade streak within the top 10, with Forbes noting that his ranking has dropped three spots since last year, marking its lowest point in nearly 25 years on the Forbes 400 list.
Forbes attributes Gates’ decline in wealth to two main factors: his divorce and his philanthropic efforts. In 2021, Gates finalized his divorce from Melinda French Gates, resulting in a significant financial settlement for French Gates. Gates and French Gates co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation over two decades ago. However, French Gates recently left the organization to pursue her own philanthropic goals.
Over the years, Gates has donated more than $59 billion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Gates, along with his ex-wife and Warren Buffett, is one of the founders of the Giving Pledge, a movement that encourages billionaires to donate a majority of their wealth to charitable causes. Gates believes that the world would benefit if billionaires voluntarily donated more of their wealth to help address pressing global issues.
In a recent episode of his Netflix series “What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates,” Gates expressed concerns about the concentration of wealth among billionaires and its implications. He also highlighted his worries about the potential for a world war and the risk of another pandemic in the future.
Gates has been vocal about his concerns regarding the possibility of a major global conflict and another pandemic in the coming years. In an interview, Gates emphasized the risks posed by current international tensions and stressed the importance of enhanced pandemic preparedness. He believes that the world is at risk of experiencing another pandemic within the next 25 years, given factors like climate change and population growth.
Gates criticized the response of the United States and other countries to the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that there was room for improvement. He believes that political divisions have hindered global efforts to adequately prepare for future outbreaks. In his book “How to Prevent the Next Pandemic,” Gates offers recommendations for strengthening quarantine policies, disease surveillance, and vaccine development to better prepare for future health crises.
Overall, Gates’ recent exit from the top 10 billionaires list can be attributed to his divorce settlement and his extensive philanthropic contributions. Despite his wealth decline, Gates remains committed to addressing pressing global issues such as pandemics and international conflicts through his philanthropic endeavors and advocacy efforts.
