Melinda French Gates Criticizes Billionaire Activists for Lack of Genuine Philanthropy
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Melinda French Gates, the ex-wife of Bill Gates and co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, aimed at a new generation of billionaire activists, labeling them as “nonphilanthropists.” This cohort includes high-profile figures such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, and venture capitalist Peter Thiel.
French Gates, who has recently left the Gates Foundation after overseeing nearly $80 billion in charitable donations, was critical of these billionaires for their perceived lack of substantial philanthropic contributions. “The people you just named have not been very philanthropic yet,” French Gates asserted. “They use their voice and their megaphones, but I would not call those men philanthropists.”
She elaborated that while some of these billionaires have signed the Giving Pledge—a commitment by wealthy individuals to donate a significant portion of their wealth to charitable causes—there is a noticeable gap in actual monetary contributions. “Some have signed the pledge, and I’m not saying that’s the way they have to do it. But go look at their record of actually giving money to society. It’s not big,” she said with a laugh.
French Gates contrasted her and Bill Gates’ philanthropic approach with that of the newer generation. She emphasized that the traditional model of philanthropy, exemplified by herself and figures like Warren Buffett, involves tangible contributions and commitments, rather than just public endorsements and social media activity.
In addition to her critique of billionaire philanthropists, French Gates discussed her recent foray into political activism. Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned the constitutional protection for abortion rights, French Gates publicly endorsed President Joe Biden and, later, Vice President Kamala Harris. Her support for Biden marked her first foray into publicly endorsing a political candidate.
French Gates explained her decision to become more politically active by emphasizing the importance of women’s rights and the broader implications of the Dobbs decision. “If there was a candidate who is against women’s rights and says terrible things about women, there is no way I could vote for that person,” she stated. She highlighted concerns about the decision’s impact on maternal health and access to care, particularly for marginalized communities.
Elon Musk, who responded to French Gates’ endorsement of Biden by suggesting it might contribute to the “downfall of Western civilization,” drew a dismissive reaction from French Gates. She labeled Musk’s comment as “silly,” underscoring her belief that significant issues, such as women’s rights, outweigh such criticisms.
French Gates’ statements reflect a broader debate about the role and effectiveness of modern philanthropy and the responsibilities of wealthy individuals in addressing societal issues.
Updated 5:28 p.m. July 28: An earlier version of this story incorrectly referred to French Gates as Gates’ widow instead of his ex-wife.
