Why Bill Gates is Choosing Not to Leave 99% of His Wealth to His Children

Bill Gates, worthy implicit $100 billion, plans to permission his 3 children little than 1% of his immense fortune. While that inactive amounts to millions per child, it's a amazingly tiny fraction of what the Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) cofounder could give.

Gates' mentation is straightforward: "It wouldn't beryllium a favour to them." Instead of creating a "dynasty," Gates says helium wants the younger Gates—Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe—to forge their ain paths. We'll get into his reasoning, on with wherever the remainder of his wealthiness volition go, below.

How Much Is Bill Gates Worth?

Gates amassed his luck chiefly done Microsoft, the bundle institution helium co-founded with Paul Allen successful 1975. Microsoft rapidly became the world’s largest bundle maker, helping to motorboat the idiosyncratic computing industry. Gates became the world’s youngest self-made billionaire astatine property 32 successful 1987, pursuing Microsoft’s initial nationalist offering and the explosive maturation of its Windows operating system. Gates hasn't been astatine Microsoft since 2000, erstwhile helium stepped down from its board.

As of April 2025, Gates’ net worth is estimated to beryllium $107.7 billion, making him the 13th richest idiosyncratic successful the world. Gates has diversified his portfolio done Cascade Investment, his backstage holding company. Cascade manages stakes successful dozens of nationalist and backstage companies, including Canadian National Railway, Deere & Co., Ecolab, and existent property and vigor assets.

The Philosophy Behind Limited Inheritance

In a 2025 interrogation connected the "Figuring Out" podcast with Raj Shamani, Gates made his reasoning for leaving prime of however overmuch to permission his children clear: "My kids got a large upbringing, education, but little than 1% of the full wealthiness due to the fact that I decided it wouldn't beryllium a favour to them. It's not a dynasty. I'm not asking them to tally Microsoft."

Gates said he'd similar to permission them the state to forge their ain paths. "I privation to springiness them a accidental to person their ain net and success, beryllium important and not overshadowed by the unthinkable luck and bully luck I had," helium said.

Where the Rest Will Go: The Gates Foundation

The immense bulk of Gates' wealth is directed toward the Gates Foundation (formerly the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). The instauration held $75.2 cardinal successful its endowment arsenic of December 2023 (the astir caller nationalist figures).

Established successful 2000, the instauration focuses chiefly connected planetary health, education, and poorness simplification initiatives. The instauration has donated billions to combat diseases similar malaria, HIV/AIDS, and polio.

Bottom Line

Bill Gates says he's leaving little than 1% of his luck to his children due to the fact that it would bash them much harm than good. But helium besides says helium wants to prioritize the planetary interaction his wealth tin person for the causes that are his foundation's focus. "The highest calling for these resources is to spell backmost to the neediest done the foundation," helium said.