To give us a glimpse on why he did what he did in that historic 2006 philantrophic event, read him talk about the story of he won the Ovarian Lottery -
“I’ve been very lucky. I was born in the US in 1930 and won the lottery day I was born. I had terrific parents, a good education, and I was wired in a way that paid off disproportionately in this particular society. If I had been born long ago or in some other country, my particular writing would not have paid off the way it has. But in a market system, where capital-allocation wiring is important, it pays off like no other place.
All along, I’ve felt the money was just claim checks that should go back to society. I am not an enthusiast for dynastic wealth, particularly when the alternative is six billion people who’ve got much poorer hands in life than we have, getting a chance to benefit from the money. And my wife agreed with me.
It was clear that Bill Gates had an outstanding mind with the right goals, focusing intensely with passion and heart on improving the lot of mankind around the world without any regard to gender, religion, color, or geography. He was just doing the most good for the most people. So when the time came to make a decision or where the money would go, it was a simple decision.”
Wow, if only the other wealthy guys thought like Buffet and Gates... :)
Source: “The Snowball and the Business of Life" by Alice Schroeder.
