The Digest:
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has fallen to 14th place on Forbes' list of America's richest people, marking his first exit from the top 10 in over three decades. While his net worth remains at $107 billion, his deliberate commitment to donating 99% of his wealth to the Gates Foundation has reshaped his financial ranking.
Key Points:
- Gates ranks below Mike Bloomberg and above Alice Walton on the 2025 Forbes 400
- His decline is partly attributed to his $7 billion in recent donations and his 2021 divorce from Melinda French Gates
- Gates plans to donate "billions a year" to his foundation, which will close in 2045
- The philanthropist aims to eradicate preventable child deaths and diseases like polio and malaria
- His divorce settlement included an estimated $29 billion transfer to Melinda French Gates
- Despite his drop in ranking, Gates’ influence through philanthropy continues to grow globally
Sources: Forbes, Gates Foundation
