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> IIt has been 5 years since gates formed the giving pledge. In that time, he lost and regained the position as the world's richest man. This is not supportive

> IIt has been 5 years since gates formed the giving pledge. In that time, he lost and regained the position as the world's richest man. This is not supportive of a claim that this is genuine.* Huh? Bill Gates has most of his wealth in US equities. Thus US stock market returned over 30% last year. Warren Buffett has almost all of his wealth in Berkshire Hathaway. BRK underperformed the stock market last year. Carlos Slim has almost all of his wealth in Mexican companies. The Mexican stock market returned -10% last year. It's not hard to see how Bill Gates increased his wealth relative to his competitors, despite giving away billions of dollars every year. What's more, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has given away $30 billion since it was established. Where do you think the money came from? Warren Buffett's contributions have thus far been in the single-digit billions. If you stop believing in conspiracy theories and try looking at the data, you'll understand the world a lot better.

droopybuns 13y ago
Please don't lecture me about conspiracy theories or data. Ask yourself why you are being an apologist for this douche. Here is some raw data for you: http://www.slate.com/blogs/business_insider/2014/03/06/bill_gates_net_worth_he_s_9_billion_richer_than_a_year_ago_but_most_of_his.html http://www.slate.com/blogs/business_insider/2014/03/06/bill_... He has continuously increased his wealth, while trying to convince young entrepreneurs to start planning to give away half of their wealth before they are even 30. He started late and he has a pile of money that compounds away at a rate that it has become absurd. He has the audacity to claim that now that he is retired, he is just giving it away. It is disingenuous and smug for him to start claiming 5 years ago that he's going to start giving away half his money and have him end up with more than cash than when he started. It is an embarassment.
- tanzam75 13y ago
  > Please don't lecture me about conspiracy theories or data. Ask yourself why you are being an apologist for this douche. It's pretty clear that you're not interested in reaching conclusions by interpreting the data. Rather, you just want to call Bill Gates names, and prefer to cherry-pick the data to do it with. For example: > It is disingenuous and smug for him to start claiming 5 years ago that he's going to start giving away half his money and have him end up with more than cash than when he started. It is an embarassment. First, he started giving away his money a lot more than five years ago. Second, he did not plan to give away half his wealth -- he planned to give away all of it. Third, very few people who've taken the Giving Pledge have seen their wealth decrease. The market has simply performed well recently. Imagine if Bill Gates followed a strict policy of ending each year with less money as you suggest. Thus, he would give $20 billion in a year in which the markets one go up 30%, and $0 in a year in which the markets fall. This is a terrible way to give out money. Charities would be unable to undertake any long-term projects with that kind of fluctuation. That is why your criticism of Bull Gates is not only highly misleading, but highly illogical. Philanthropists should hold onto the money in good times, so that they can continue giving in bad times -- precisely when it is most needed.

droopybuns 13y ago

Please don't lecture me about conspiracy theories or data. Ask yourself why you are being an apologist for this douche. Here is some raw data for you: http://www.slate.com/blogs/business_insider/2014/03/06/bill_gates_net_worth_he_s_9_billion_richer_than_a_year_ago_but_most_of_his.html http://www.slate.com/blogs/business_insider/2014/03/06/bill_... He has continuously increased his wealth, while trying to convince young entrepreneurs to start planning to give away half of their wealth before they are even 30. He started late and he has a pile of money that compounds away at a rate that it has become absurd. He has the audacity to claim that now that he is retired, he is just giving it away. It is disingenuous and smug for him to start claiming 5 years ago that he's going to start giving away half his money and have him end up with more than cash than when he started. It is an embarassment.

tanzam75 13y ago
> Please don't lecture me about conspiracy theories or data. Ask yourself why you are being an apologist for this douche. It's pretty clear that you're not interested in reaching conclusions by interpreting the data. Rather, you just want to call Bill Gates names, and prefer to cherry-pick the data to do it with. For example: > It is disingenuous and smug for him to start claiming 5 years ago that he's going to start giving away half his money and have him end up with more than cash than when he started. It is an embarassment. First, he started giving away his money a lot more than five years ago. Second, he did not plan to give away half his wealth -- he planned to give away all of it. Third, very few people who've taken the Giving Pledge have seen their wealth decrease. The market has simply performed well recently. Imagine if Bill Gates followed a strict policy of ending each year with less money as you suggest. Thus, he would give $20 billion in a year in which the markets one go up 30%, and $0 in a year in which the markets fall. This is a terrible way to give out money. Charities would be unable to undertake any long-term projects with that kind of fluctuation. That is why your criticism of Bull Gates is not only highly misleading, but highly illogical. Philanthropists should hold onto the money in good times, so that they can continue giving in bad times -- precisely when it is most needed.