Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates says he doesn’t “deserve” his fortune and thinks taxes on the rich should be much more “progressive” than they are in the United States.
“I have paid more than $10 billion in taxes, but I should have paid more,” Mr. Gates, who is worth roughly $96.5 billion, told the UK.’s Daily Mail in an interview published Tuesday. “I more than followed the law but I think things should be more progressive.
“I don’t deserve my fortune,” he said. “Nobody does. It has come through timing, luck, and through people I worked with. I certainly worked hard and I think software has been a beneficial thing, but I benefited from a structure too.”
Mr. Gates, who runs the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with his wife, said he plans to leave “some” of his fortune to his kids but that the bulk of it will go to his foundation, which seeks to reduce poverty and expand access to health care around the world.
“I don’t think giving the money to my children would be good for them or good for society,” he said. “So after whatever consumption I have, and after some left aside for the kids and for taxes, the rest of the money goes to the foundation.”
“Melinda and I work hard all the time to make sure that money goes to help those most in need,” he added.
Mr. Gates also indicated that he supports raising the federal estate tax, The Mail reported.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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