4 ms·
Post-Microsoft Bill Gates is a much more interesting person. I'm not a Microsoft fan, but I have a huge amount of respect for how he's choosing to spend the mon
by larrywright 14y ago
Post-Microsoft Bill Gates is a much more interesting person. I'm not a Microsoft fan, but I have a huge amount of respect for how he's choosing to spend the money he made. Interesting contrast to Larry Ellison, for example.
- waterlesscloud 14y agoIt's kind of crazy when you think about his goals of eradicating some diseases completely. Totally. From the face of the Earth. There are definitely worse ways to spend your time and money.
- tobylane 14y agoSince smallpox I've heard of several diseases removed, but no talk about saving a few vials. Is this still done?
- nvmc 14y agoI'd guess it is. Diseases are still organisms, and we try pretty hard not to let them go extinct.
- kevincrane 14y agoWhat's the reason for keeping them though? Is it to make vaccines if they potentially come back or more sinister pre-emptive military reasons?
- gnu8 14y agoHe's uniquely suited to the task, that's what he did to Be and Netscape.
- Klinky 14y agoBe was so hard to catch, you practically had to infect yourself with it. Netscape mutated into the Communicator Virus, and what with it's bigger molecular structure, transmission became so difficult, that it eventually died out.
- perry5000 14y agoLarry Ellison has put virtually all of his assets into a trust with the intent of giving away 95% of his money to charitable causes when he dies.
- larrywright 14y agoI did not know that. Do you have a source? I'm not judging Ellison at all. Bill could have done the same, but I think it's cool that he is choosing to oversee how that money is spent while he's still alive.
- swombat 14y agoFrom a purely selfish point of view, if I was to choose one path or the other, Bill's seems more pleasant. By spending the money on charity while alive, Bill is celebrated as a benefactor while he is alive and charities (and people) worldwide will mourn his death. Larry, on the other hand, is not celebrated as a benefactor while alive, and charities will celebrate after he dies and they finally get the money.
- reddit_clone 14y agoAnd ofcourse Larry will live to be 105.
- orourkek 14y agoI wasn't sure of this, so I looked it up: http://cms.givingpledge.org/#larry_ellison http://cms.givingpledge.org/#larry_ellison The full letter is an interesting read
- smackfu 14y agoWhat's he using to buy all his boy's toys, like yachts and plans and sports cars? Or is that just a meaningless percentage of his wealth?
- rayiner 14y agoHe said "95%". 5% of Ellison's wealth is 2 billion. His yacht was in the $200m range.