I have no use for money, says billionaire Gates

January 19, 2013 08:31 pm | Updated November 17, 2021 06:41 am IST - London

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates with Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. File Photo

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates with Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. File Photo

William Henry ‘Bill’ Gates (57) with an estimated wealth of $65 billion is as rich as two Kenyas; three Trinidads; and a dozen Montenegros but is now engaged in the process of ridding himself of all the money in the hope of extending the lives of others less fortunate than himself.

Having already given away $28 billion, the co-founder now intends to eradicate polio, The Telegraph reported.

“I’m certainly well taken care of in terms of food and clothes,” Mr. Gates said.

“Money has no utility to me beyond a certain point. Its utility is entirely in building an organisation and getting the resources out to the poorest in the world.”

Mr. Gates owns a lakeside estate in Washington State worth about $150 million. The house has a swimming pool equipped with an underwater music system.

But even at the age of 57, Mr. Gates is a restless man and wants something more.

Mr. Gates and his wife Melinda have so far given away $28 billion via their charitable foundation, more than $8 billion of it to improve global health.

“We’re focused on the help of the poorest in the world, which really drives you into vaccination. You can actually take a disease and get rid of it altogether, like we are doing with polio,” Mr. Gates told the daily.

“Polio’s pretty special because once you get an eradication you no longer have to spend money on it. It’s just there as a gift for the rest of time.”

The disease is still endemic in Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

There is, however, one obstacle. Islamist groups believe polio vaccination was a front for covert sterilisation and other western evils.

“It’s not going to stop us succeeding. It does force us to sit down with the Pakistan government to renew their commitments, see what they’re going to do in security and make changes to protect the women who are doing God’s work and getting out to these children and delivering the vaccine,” Mr. Gates said.

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