Another "Just how rich is Bill Gates?" post
According to the New York Times, Bill Gates’ $82 billion net worth makes him the fifth richest American in history. I don’t think their numbers are adjusted for inflation, though. The numbers are measured as a percentage of the economy as a whole. That said, the Gates Foundation is clearly the wealthiest charitable foundation in the world. With $33 billion in assets (and another $31 billion coming its way from Gates’ buddy Warren Buffet) the Foundation easily has another two or three decades of work ahead of itself to give away all that money. Ignoring Gates’ personal fortune for a moment, the Foundation’s worth is greater than 95 of the 162 countries the World Bank lists GDP figures for. It would slot in between Croatia and the Dominican Republic. It’s interesting to me that one of the most powerful organizations in the world sits in a nondescript office building on Eastlake Avenue. Let’s be thankful Gates is a sniveling nerd who happens to care a lot about world health and education issues instead of someone like Howard Hughes or the robber barons of the late 19th century.
Oh, and for a little context, if the Gates Foundation feels in a rush to give away its money and close up shop, it could always fund the war in Iraq. At $12 billion a month [forbes], they’d be done in time for the start of baseball season next year.
Uh… those figures are adjusted for inflation. You don’t seriously think Rockefeller was worth $192 billion do you? He was worth a little over a billion. Carnegie was worth less. Also, Howard Hughes founded the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (hhmi.org), an extremely successful philanthropic biomedical institute.
Rich dude? Yep. Philanthrope? Yep. Proto-geek? Yep. Sniveler? Oh, come on. When has Gates ever been seen to snivel? What would he snivel about?
Dork: The Times graphic says the amount is measured as a percentage of the economy. You’re right, I think that does take into account inflation. Also, while HHMI is now highly regarded, it was little more than a tax haven for Hughes when it was first founded.
Brandon: Does not a proto-geek snivel? A little maybe? His demeanor, at times, has earned the sniveling description (especially his early years).
right, how miserly of andrew carnegie to found 2500 libraries.
I don’t think I mentioned Carnegie.