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A comment on Gates Makes Largest Donation Since 2000 with $4.6B Pledge. Parent comment

Re:Gates Makes Largest Donation Since 2000 with $4.6B Pledge by wolco on Tuesday August 15, 2017 @03:43PM (#15021637)
Think about it for a second. He didn't really give the money away he gave it to a charity he controls. That gift reduced the amount of taxes flowing to the public/government vs if he cashed in the stocks himself personally.

You and I are paying more on a percentage basis to the government.

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Re:Gates Makes Largest Donation Since 2000 with $4.6B Pledge by adventured on Tuesday August 15, 2017 @08:14PM (#15023957)
> Think about it for a second. He didn't really give the money away he gave it to a charity he controls.

He is in fact giving immense sums of his money away. You should indeed think about it for a second. The Gates Foundation has expended tens of billions of dollars so far.

Fact quote from their site:

"Total grant payments since inception (through Q4 2016): $41 billion"

"Total 2016 Direct Grantee Support: $4.3 billion"

That is an extraordinary sum already. That money is gone, it is not under their control. They're spending $4.x billion per year at this point, that money is non-recoverable, it gets spent. Over time, the fortune is extinguished, as they're forced to give 5% per year. Get it?

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