Bill Gates turns up as a redditor’s Secret Santa

Ever charitable and educational, Bill Gates gives reddit a Christmas visit.

Read the whole story

 

[Shanrak]

"ps: Sorry for the apple ipad on my wishlist, that was really awkward.”

That cracked me up.

 

[RedClaw]

You know, Gates made his money in ways we can't all love, but now he's doing great things with that money. He's made an absolute fortune, and now he's dedicating most of it to trying to change the world for the better. (And in a careful, data driven way.)

His flaws aside, I respect that enormously.

 

[posullivan]

RedClaw[/url]":1modca9b]You know, Gates made his money in ways we can't all love, but now he's doing great things with that money. He's made an absolute fortune, and now he's dedicating most of it to trying to change the world for the better. (And in a careful, data driven way.)

His flaws aside, I respect that enormously.

Anyone who can drive the anti-vaccine crowd into such a frenzy has my support. It's amazing how...grandfatherly he looks in that picture too.

 

[damarv]

Now if that ain't a Christmas story that you makes you all warm and fuzzy inside. Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[DNick]

Very nice. Merry Christmas!

 

[Raptor's Boomstick]

Good News - cool story and nice gesture from Bill Gates

Bad News - this might bring back those chain emails / facebook posts / etc about how Gates will give money for each forward... :-/

 

[Topevoli]

litfan[/url]":do8n3gle]

RedClaw[/url]":do8n3gle]You know, Gates made his money in ways we can't all love, but now he's doing great things with that money. He's made an absolute fortune, and now he's dedicating most of it to trying to change the world for the better. (And in a careful, data driven way.)

His flaws aside, I respect that enormously.

I'll praise him when he actually does give his money away as he promised. Right now though he's about 16 billion richer than when he left MS at 72.6 billion dollars. I believe thats 20-25 billion more than the next richest person Warren Buffett.

Carlos Slim Helu & family $73 B

Bill Gates $67 B

.. Maybe he should just burn it. That seems like a quick and reckless way to get rid of a fortune. Certain;y makes more sense than researching and meticulously giving to charities that will use the funds properly.

 

[Control Group]

I'd like to think this is the kind of thing I'd do if I somehow became fabulously wealthy. Participate in unrelated Secret Santas, show up at random kids' birthday parties with gifts for everyone, pay off someone's debts every now and again, etc.

 

[antidumb]

You mean like the Gates foundation? He's given away quite a bit of loot via that.

Edit: replying to Liftan.

 

[jdale]

litfan[/url]":2zszzjlc]

RedClaw[/url]":2zszzjlc]You know, Gates made his money in ways we can't all love, but now he's doing great things with that money. He's made an absolute fortune, and now he's dedicating most of it to trying to change the world for the better. (And in a careful, data driven way.)

His flaws aside, I respect that enormously.

I'll praise him when he actually does give his money away as he promised. Right now though he's about 16 billion richer than when he left MS at 72.6 billion dollars. I believe thats 20-25 billion more than the next richest person Warren Buffett.

Wikipedia: "As of 2007, Bill and Melinda Gates were the second-most generous philanthropists in America, having given over $28 billion to charity;[84] the couple plan to eventually donate 95% of their wealth to charity." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_gates

$28 billion means that, six years ago, he had only managed to give away about a third of his money so far. I'm sorry that's not good enough for your high standards.

 

[Jevry]

Shannara[/url]":30fbo9le]

RedClaw[/url]":30fbo9le]You know, Gates made his money in ways we can't all love, but now he's doing great things with that money. He's made an absolute fortune, and now he's dedicating most of it to trying to change the world for the better. (And in a careful, data driven way.)

His flaws aside, I respect that enormously.

I would love to know what those flaws are ....

In my financial shoes, giving 500 dollars away to a stranger would count as a flaw

 

[Gilded.lady]

"I'll praise him when he actually does give his money away as he promised. Right now though he's about 16 billion richer than when he left MS at 72.6 billion dollars. I believe thats 20-25 billion more than the next richest person Warren Buffett."

It's called careful investment of his funds, like any good foundation does to ensure it can continue its work in fhe future.

That aside, how cool must it have been to realize that Gates was your Secret Santa?! He really does seem like a good guy

 

[Control Group]

Topevoli[/url]":369zl35t]

litfan[/url]":369zl35t]

RedClaw[/url]":369zl35t]You know, Gates made his money in ways we can't all love, but now he's doing great things with that money. He's made an absolute fortune, and now he's dedicating most of it to trying to change the world for the better. (And in a careful, data driven way.)

His flaws aside, I respect that enormously.

I'll praise him when he actually does give his money away as he promised. Right now though he's about 16 billion richer than when he left MS at 72.6 billion dollars. I believe thats 20-25 billion more than the next richest person Warren Buffett.

Carlos Slim Helu & family $73 B

Bill Gates $67 B

.. Maybe he should just burn it. That seems like a quick and reckless way to get rid of a fortune. Certain;y makes more sense than researching and meticulously giving to charities that will use the funds properly.

I doubt it would be all that quick, really. Most bank branches don't have more than a couple million on hand (and many small branches require advance notice for amounts of cash in excess of $10k). Trying to collect $50 billion in cash seems troublesome.

And even if you did, the stack of $100 bills would weigh 550 tons; this is not something that would burn quickly.

 

[dave_ruff]

Topevoli[/url]":3pbrkdsy]

litfan[/url]":3pbrkdsy]

RedClaw[/url]":3pbrkdsy]You know, Gates made his money in ways we can't all love, but now he's doing great things with that money. He's made an absolute fortune, and now he's dedicating most of it to trying to change the world for the better. (And in a careful, data driven way.)

His flaws aside, I respect that enormously.

I'll praise him when he actually does give his money away as he promised. Right now though he's about 16 billion richer than when he left MS at 72.6 billion dollars. I believe thats 20-25 billion more than the next richest person Warren Buffett.

Carlos Slim Helu & family $73 B

Bill Gates $67 B

.. Maybe he should just burn it. That seems like a quick and reckless way to get rid of a fortune. Certain;y makes more sense than researching and meticulously giving to charities that will use the funds properly.

Or, god forbid, actually grow the money while giving it away systematically so that at the end of your giving days, you've ended up donating a fuckload more than if you just wrote a big check in the beginning. Who'd think Bill Gates or Warren Buffet (who's basically doing the same thing) can manage money better than a charity.

Anyway, great story. I have plenty of nits to pick from Bill's old MS/Evil Empire days, and even his current support of software patents, but guess what, human beings are nuanced, and I praise the hell out of his philanthropic efforts.

 

[Technolink]

I'm not sure how Reddit's secret Santa works, but if it is a chain type system that begs the question... who got Bill Gates, and what gift did they get him?

I can't even imagine what I would give Bill Gates. Maybe 1 horse sized stuffed duck?

 

[TJStrig]

Warren Buffet (who's basically doing the same thing)

He's not basically doing the same thing, he is ACTUALLY doing the same thing, having pledged the majority of his wealth to the Gates Foundation.

 

[theoldschoolervt]

Technolink[/url]":17zt4asj]I'm not sure how Reddit's secret Santa works, but if it is a chain type system that begs the question... who got Bill Gates, and what gift did they get him?

I can't even imagine what I would give Bill Gates.

Well an iPad Air of course.

 

[precambrian]

Shanrak[/url]":36xcy9vh]"ps: Sorry for the apple ipad on my wishlist, that was really awkward.”

That cracked me up.

Regardless of the public posturing, what are the chances that the richest computer nerd in the world doesn't own an iPad? He's probably gotten dozens as gag gifts.

 

[CrookedKnight]

If I wanted to be a real dick I'd get him a Raspberry Pi.

 

[Bengie25]

If I remember correctly, his kids are only getting $10m each for their inheritance. The rest of his money will live in his foundation, probably doing charity work for several life times. His money is also invested, so it is still gathering value.

What he's doing now will probably make it in the history books and teachers will tell kids how 200 years ago, Bill Gates started a charity that is still going.

 

[qasimq]

Bill Gates just keeps on getting awesome in my eyes.
Thoughtful gifts on his part.

 

[joshuaism]

Control Group[/url]":1emvn6w4]I'd like to think this is the kind of thing I'd do if I somehow became fabulously wealthy. Participate in unrelated Secret Santas, show up at random kids' birthday parties with gifts for everyone, pay off someone's debts every now and again, etc.

You can't do that! Who do you think you are, Oprah?

 

[eljefeloco]

antidumb[/url]":3npthiim]You mean like the Gates foundation? He's given away quite a bit of loot via that.

Edit: replying to Liftan.

Yeah, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has done so much good for this world that it seems unfathomable. The fact that they are also willing to try methods of aid that will hopefully lead to a sustainable future for the recipients (like the Heifer International stuff and Melinda's project of medical training) rather than continued need for incremental aid is astounding.

Anyone who claims that Bill hasn't done enough to atone for whatever "sins" he committed while at Microsoft hasn't paid any attention to his actual life lately. That man and his wife are truly amazing, wonderful people.

 

[Z1ggy]

well done Bill. and that apple ipad line cracked me up.

 

[mausium]

joshuaism[/url]":1v0n58zr]

Control Group[/url]":1v0n58zr]I'd like to think this is the kind of thing I'd do if I somehow became fabulously wealthy. Participate in unrelated Secret Santas, show up at random kids' birthday parties with gifts for everyone, pay off someone's debts every now and again, etc.

You can't do that! Who do you think you are, Oprah?

Oprah's like the anti-Gates, having introduced the world to Dr Oz, The Secret (less harmful but still con-artists), Jenny McCarthy, etc. She "gives away money", but at the expense of the harm she does to society.

 

[hernil]

Bill Gates is one of my favourite famous people! Doing real charity work that matters without caving in for crazy people opposing vaccines and the like.

Keep up the good work!

 

[Crackhead Johny]

It is good to see he still knows how to have fun and be normal.

 

[bettercitizens]

Interesting thread.

Regardless of what you think of Mr. Gates, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has enough money between Bill and Warren's contributions to literally be a millennia foundation. So in a thousand years (assuming foundations are not outlawed and all the money siezed and the Earth still exists) the foundation should still be in existence. That is pretty incredible!

 

[Hagen]

Topevoli[/url]":20qv90dz]
.. Maybe he should just burn it. That seems like a quick and reckless way to get rid of a fortune. Certain;y makes more sense than researching and meticulously giving to charities that will use the funds properly.

Bill isn't the KLF, altho there was a Bill in the KLF.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_Foundati ... llion_Quid

 

[Koutousov]

bettercitizens[/url]":1kj3zsn9]Interesting thread.

Regardless of what you think of Mr. Gates, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has enough money between Bill and Warren's contributions to literally be a millennia foundation. So in a thousand years (assuming foundations are not outlawed and all the money siezed and the Earth still exists) the foundation should still be in existence. That is pretty incredible!

Actually no. Bill has said in interview that they have an end date to the foundation. They have certain goal and wish to get to these goals by a certain date and to have spent all the foundation money by this time.

IIRC it's somewhere in this interview. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBHJ-8Bch4E

Edit: He talk about the end of his foundation at 33:52

 

[Maldoror]

Is it me, or does he start to look like Woody Allen?

 

[cf18]

Hmm... Didn't Reddit moved out of Conde Nate some time ago?

http://blog.reddit.com/2011/09/independence.html

 

[flabberboozled]

cf18[/url]":2mgqs9m8]Hmm... Didn't Reddit moved out of Conde Nate some time ago?

http://blog.reddit.com/2011/09/independence.html

You may want to read the second paragraph in the link you provided.

"reddit Inc. is now owned by Advance Publications (which also owns Condé Nast), so even though the organizational shift is important, reddit is not really going anywhere."

Ars is owned by Conde Nast, which is a division of Advance Publications which also owns reddit.

 

[Asvarduil]

joshuaism[/url]":7yy80vke]

Control Group[/url]":7yy80vke]I'd like to think this is the kind of thing I'd do if I somehow became fabulously wealthy. Participate in unrelated Secret Santas, show up at random kids' birthday parties with gifts for everyone, pay off someone's debts every now and again, etc.

You can't do that! Who do you think you are, Oprah?

How do you know Control Group isn't?