In a 2023 January Reddit “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) session, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, stated that he plans to donate the majority of his assets, including land, to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Bill Gates’ Land Ownership
Bill Gates, in response to a question from Reddit users, acknowledged that he is currently the largest individual landowner in the United States, with approximately 275,000 acres of farmland.
However, he explained that his investment in these lands aims to increase their productivity and create more job opportunities.
Intentions Behind Land Ownership
Bill Gates clarified that his land ownership represents less than 1/4000th of the total land in the United States. He further explained that his decision to invest in farmland is driven by the objective of improving their productivity and generating employment.
He emphasized that he does not have grand plans himself and that these decisions are made by his professional investment team.
Charitable Donation Plans
Bill Gates reassured the Reddit audience that, similar to the majority of his assets, he intends to donate all the farmland he owns for charitable purposes.
He reaffirmed his commitment to giving back and mentioned that his ultimate plan is to donate the vast majority of his assets, including land, to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Previous Philanthropic Contributions
Last year in July, Bill Gates had already announced his intention to donate the majority of his assets to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which he co-founded with his former wife.
According to Forbes, Gates is currently ranked as the 7th wealthiest person in the world, with a net worth of approximately $103.6 billion.
He had donated a total of $20 billion to the foundation last year.