Bill Gates says his children will inherit less than 1% of his fortune

Bill Gates, the 69-year-old co-founder of Microsoft, has made it clear once again that his children will receive less than 1% of his vast $155 billion fortune. Despite this still amounting to over $1.5 billion collectively, Gates says the decision is rooted in principle, not numbers.

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Gates shares three children, Jennifer (28), Rory (25) and Phoebe (22) with his ex-wife Melinda. He explained that his children had access to excellent education and upbringing and he wants them to create their own paths rather than rely on inherited wealth. “It’s not a dynasty,” Gates stated. “I’m now asking them to run Microsoft. I want them to have their own success.”

He emphasized that while love and support for his children are unquestionable, true fairness lies in treating them equally and providing them with opportunities, not endless riches. Gates believes the majority of his wealth should serve a greater purpose, helping those in need through the Gates foundation. 

This isn’t a new stance for Gates. He previously had said that giving vast sums to children could be a mistake, once stating that he planned to give each of his children $10 million, not enough to settle.