Bill Gates' Net Worth Drops by $51 Billion Amid Increased Philanthropic Giving

 Bill Gates' Net Worth Drops by $51 Billion Amid Increased Philanthropic Giving

Bill Gates has seen his fortune drop by a staggering $51 billion in a matter of days, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, as he intensifies his charitable giving efforts.

The Microsoft co-founder, once the world’s richest man, now ranks 12th on the index with an estimated net worth of $124 billion—down from $175 billion earlier this month. Surpassing him on the list is former Microsoft CEO and current Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, now ranked fifth with $173 billion. Tesla CEO Elon Musk continues to top the list with a net worth of $360 billion.

Gates’ declining wealth reflects his long-standing pledge to donate the majority of his fortune. In May, he reiterated his plan to give away 99% of his wealth over the next two decades. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he co-founded with his former wife Melinda in 2000, is expected to wind down operations by December 31, 2045.

“People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that ‘he died rich’ will not be one of them,” Gates wrote in a recent blog post. “There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people.”

Gates said his decision was reinforced by the impact the foundation has had—particularly in delivering life-saving vaccines for preventable illnesses like diarrhea and pneumonia, which continue to take lives in low-income countries. The move also comes at a time when foreign aid from the U.S. and Europe has declined due to ongoing global conflicts.

Despite the steep drop in net worth, Gates remains unwavering in his commitment to philanthropy. His fortune has since dipped slightly further, with the latest estimate placing it at around $123 billion.

Since its inception, the Gates Foundation has grown into one of the world’s largest philanthropic organizations, reportedly distributing over $100 billion to initiatives focused on global health, education, and poverty alleviation.