Global health is a major focus for the foundation because it’s the worst inequity on the planet and it’s a solvable problem. I do almost all of my work through the Gates Foundation, though most of my efforts on climate and clean energy are housed at Breakthrough Energy and I fund research on Alzheimer’s disease separately. As I get older, though, I see how wrong I was. When I was in my twenties, I didn’t think that anyone my grandparents’ age had anything useful to offer the world at large. Maybe age makes it easier to understand this. This is a long-term project that requires patience in the effort to make the world more equitable, success is measured in years and decades. When I think about the world my grandchild will be born into, I’m more inspired than ever to help everyone’s children and grandchildren have a chance to survive and thrive. And the thought gives a new dimension to my work. Simply typing that phrase, “I’ll become a grandfather next year,” makes me emotional. But I started looking at the world through a new lens recently-when my older daughter gave me the incredible news that I’ll become a grandfather next year. I also feel a responsibility to give my wealth back to society in ways that do the most good for the most people. I’ve always viewed my philanthropy as a way to help reduce the awful inequities I see around the world. Although I don’t care where I rank on the list of the world’s richest people, I do know that as I succeed in giving, I will drop down and eventually off the list altogether. I’m still going full speed on the project I began more than two decades ago, which is to give the vast majority of my resources back to society. It’s hard to believe I’m that old-in America, most people my age are retired!īut I won’t be slowing down anytime soon.
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