Bill Gates Drops Out of Top 10 Billionaires Due to Philanthropic Giving
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has officially dropped out of the world’s top 10 wealthiest individuals, according to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His net worth has declined to $124 billion, placing him in 12th position, a steep fall from the over $175 billion he previously held.
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The primary reason behind this sharp drop is Gates’ commitment to philanthropy. In May, he reiterated his pledge to give away “virtually all” of his wealth through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with a target of closing the foundation by December 31, 2045. Since its inception, Gates and his ex-wife Melinda have donated $60.2 billion.
“My aim is to give away nearly everything to help improve lives around the world, particularly in education and healthcare across Africa,” Gates said in a blog post.
Steve Ballmer Surpasses Bill Gates
In a surprising turn, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer now ranks 5th globally, surpassing Bill Gates for the first time. Ballmer, who still owns roughly 4% of Microsoft, has seen his wealth grow alongside the tech giant’s surging stock price. He originally joined Microsoft in 1980 with a modest salary and a bonus tied to company profits — a deal that eventually turned into a substantial equity stake.
Musk, Zuckerberg, and Bezos in the Lead
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, continues to hold the #1 position, with an estimated net worth of $346 billion. Despite some volatility in Tesla’s stock price, Musk remains far ahead of his closest rivals.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg currently ranks second, having recently overtaken Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, with a net worth of $253 billion. Bezos now stands at fourth, valued at $244 billion.
These updates mark a shifting landscape among the world’s ultra-wealthy, influenced not only by business success but increasingly by philanthropic priorities and long-term giving commitments.
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