- Melinda French Gates doesn't think the new generation of billionaire activists is doing enough.
- Gates also called Elon Musk's criticism of her political endorsements “stupid.”
- Gates said he would continue to donate to organizations that support women's rights.
Melinda French Gates says a new generation of billionaires like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel are primarily using their “megaphones” to make a difference today, rather than their bank accounts.
In an interview with The New York Times, Gates was asked what he thought about the philanthropic efforts shown by a new generation of “billionaire activists” such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, hedge fund manager Bill Ackman and PayPal founder Peter Thiel.
“Well, the people you just named haven't done much philanthropy yet,” French Gates responded. “They have a voice, they use a megaphone, but I wouldn't call them philanthropists.”
In May, Gates announced her intention to step down as co-chair of the Gates Foundation, which she founded with her former husband, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
In a statement, she said she remained committed to “people and organizations working on behalf of women and families around the world, including reproductive rights in the United States.”
In January, Elon Musk criticized French Gates' decision to endorse President Joe Biden for the 2024 presidential election, saying the decision “could be the downfall of Western civilization.” French Gates subsequently endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the Democratic front-runner after Biden dropped out of the race earlier this month. In endorsing Harris, French Gates stressed the need for a leader who would defend abortion rights.
French Gates also told the Times that Musk's criticism of his political activities was “silly.”
Asked to elaborate further, French Gates said he believes tech CEOs frequently give advice on matters in which they are not experts.
“For years, I've watched technology leaders get interviewed about their parenting styles,” Gates said. “These men work 60 hours a week at their companies. I'm sure they're great CEOs and have great jobs. But when they're asked about parenting, they answer this or that, and I think something's off. So, to me, some of these comments are just a bit ridiculous.”
French Gates told The New York Times that she decided to get involved in politics in the wake of the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, a half-century-old decision that protected abortion rights.
“I knew I had to speak out in support of women's rights. If there was a candidate who was against women's rights and said terrible things about women, I could never vote for that person,” she said.
