# Interview with Bill Gates on his approach to giving

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2004/02/04/interview-bill-gates-his-approach-giving/
- Published: 2004-02-04T00:00:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Raekha Prasad interviews the world’s wealthiest man, Bill Gates, on today’s SocietyGuardian.

Prasad asks Gates what motivated him to focus on philanthropy while still developing
his business. He spends about 10 hours a week on his charitable foundation and up
to 60 hours on Microsoft business. His mother encouraged him to think about giving
some of his wealth to charity, and investor Warren Buffet’s criticism of rich parents
simply passing their wealth down to their children made him think about how he could
use his fortune more effectively.

He has pledged to give away his £28 billion fortune before he dies. So far The Bill&
Melinda Gates Foundation has spent about £4 billion primarily on international health
activities.

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