Even at the expense of sounding like a troll, it always amazes me, really it does, that Bill Gates and Paul Allen the two founders of the so called "evil" MS have given so much money to charity while we haven't seen any such moves from Jobs and Woz the founders of "think-different" Apple.<p>Makes you wonder, doesn't it.
He earned it so he can spend it anyway he wants, but it would probably help a lot more people if he used the money to become an angel investor in a lot of small businesses that would employ a lot of people. Funding startups in bio and space that would advance the technology, but probably wouldn't get funding from other sources.
This is a good step, but the state should also be taxing them at close to 90% as well. That way all the other billionaires who don't care about philanthropy are forced to contribute back into the system that allowed them to gain the wealth in the first place.
Which is better?<p>Just giving away money or targeted investment on critical research/development and social needs to inflict a lasting change (without taking any profit)?<p>Would you drop few billion dollars on Africa or would you make investments to create long-term industry that will give people jobs and help them help themselves?<p>I think what Paul/Gates/Buffet and others are doing is great, but I think we have to start looking at ways to make maximum impact instead of feel-good philanthropy to non-profit organization.<p>IMO ofcourse.
Why was he able to make billions anyway?<p>That money would have been spent better on charging less for his products than giving it to charity where much will probably be lost in immense bureaucracy.
Man, he may even give away enough that he's no longer one of the 250 richest people on the planet.<p>Don't get me wrong, it's a great gesture but let's put it in perspective. He is and will remain obscenely rich and this will make absolutely no difference to him in terms of how he lives his life.<p>In terms of disposable income and day to day impact on what he can and can't do, it's probably less significant than someone on this board giving away $10,000.