Bill Gates, worth over $100 billion, plans to leave his three children less than 1% of his vast fortune. While that still amounts to millions per child, it’s a surprisingly small fraction of what the Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) cofounder could give.
Gates’ explanation is straightforward: “It wouldn’t be a favor to them.” Instead of creating a “dynasty,” Gates says he wants the younger Gates—Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe—to forge their own paths. We’ll get into his reasoning, along with where the rest of his wealth will go, below.
Key Takeaways
- Gates’ three children will inherit less than 1% of his estimated $100 billion-plus fortune, which still translates to about a billion dollars.
- Gates says that providing his children with a massive inheritance could undermine their ability to achieve their own success and develop their own identities.
How Much Is Bill Gates Worth?
Gates amassed his fortune primarily through Microsoft, the software company he co-founded with Paul Allen in 1975. Microsoft rapidly became the world’s largest software maker, helping to launch the personal computing industry. Gates became the world’s youngest self-made billionaire at age 32 in 1987, following Microsoft’s initial public offering and the explosive growth of its Windows operating system. Gates hasn’t been at Microsoft since 2000, when he stepped down from its board.
As of April 2025, Gates’ net worth is estimated to be $107.7 billion, making him the 13th richest person in the world. Gates has diversified his portfolio through Cascade Investment, his private holding company. Cascade manages stakes in dozens of public and private companies, including Canadian National Railway, Deere & Co., Ecolab, and real estate and energy assets.
The Philosophy Behind Limited Inheritance
In a 2025 interview on the “Figuring Out” podcast with Raj Shamani, Gates made his reasoning for leaving choice of how much to leave his children clear: “My kids got a great upbringing, education, but less than 1% of the total wealth because I decided it wouldn’t be a favor to them. It’s not a dynasty. I’m not asking them to run Microsoft.”
Gates said he’d like to leave them the freedom to forge their own paths. “I want to give them a chance to have their own earnings and success, be significant and not overshadowed by the incredible luck and good fortune I had,” he said.
Fast Fact
Asked about his legacy, Gates didn’t mention Microsoft or any of his business ventures. “Ideally, [those speaking of him after his death would] say that, wow, there were these diseases around, polio and malaria and malnutrition, and now we don’t have to think about that, partly because he championed putting more great thinking and resources into ending those problems.”
Where the Rest Will Go: The Gates Foundation
The vast majority of Gates’ wealth is directed toward the Gates Foundation (formerly the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). The foundation held $75.2 billion in its endowment as of December 2023 (the most recent public figures).
Established in 2000, the foundation focuses primarily on global health, education, and poverty reduction initiatives. The foundation has donated billions to combat diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, and polio.
Fast Fact
A longtime friend of Gates, Warren Buffett is a major funder of the Gates Foundation, having given over $39 billion since 2006.
Bottom Line
Bill Gates says he’s leaving less than 1% of his fortune to his children because it would do them more harm than good. But he also says he wants to prioritize the global impact his money can have for the causes that are his foundation’s focus. “The highest calling for these resources is to go back to the neediest through the foundation,” he said.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-2151909132-17fc5847200f4f108dd54d0877d22467.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1&description=Why+Bill+Gates+is+Choosing+Not+to+Leave+99%25+of+His+Wealth+to+His+Children){kind=link}