Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, recently shared his thoughts on inheritance, making headlines with a surprising decision. With a net worth exceeding $100 billion, Gates announced that he intends to donate the vast majority of his fortune to charitable causes, leaving less than 1% of it to his three children.
Speaking on a podcast, Gates explained his reasoning: “In my case, my children were raised well and received a great education. I’ve decided that giving them more than a small fraction of my wealth wouldn't actually benefit them. This is not a dynasty. I never intended for them to take over Microsoft.”
Gates also advised other parents to think carefully about the issue of inheritance. “I want to give my children the opportunity to earn their own success, to be important in their own right and not live in the shadow of the incredible luck and opportunities I had,” he said, emphasizing that inheritance should also consider the values it imparts.
According to Forbes' 2025 World Billionaires List, Gates’ current net worth stands at $102.2 billion, ranking him as the 13th richest person globally. At the top of the list is Elon Musk, with an estimated fortune of $342 billion.
Gates has stated that most of his wealth will go to the charitable organization he founded in 2000 with his then-wife, Melinda Gates. After their divorce in 2021, the organization was renamed the Gates Foundation. Today, it is one of the largest and most influential philanthropic foundations in the world, focusing on global health, education, and development.
Although Gates’ children will inherit only a small portion of his wealth, each is still expected to be worth over $1 billion. His children are currently 28, 25, and 22 years old.