Gates Prepares For A Philanthropic Future Doesn’t Believe In Leaving ‘Lots And Lots’ Of Money To Relatives

In the 1970s and ‘80s it was his mother, Mary. In the ‘90s it’s been his father, Bill Jr.

If Thursday night’s speech to the Seattle Foundation was any indication, it will not be long before Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates assumes the family philanthropic mantle.

Gates chose the foundation’s 50th anniversary to reveal a magnanimity of intent that many have questioned would ever materialize.

Looking more relaxed and dapper than usual in a black bow-tie tuxedo, the Microsoft co-founder left little doubt he will spread his $15 billion-plus fortune far and wide in his lifetime.

“Philanthropy is one of the greatest pleasures I have,” Gates told a packed ballroom audience at the Westin Hotel.

Gates said there was some question whether he would make the talk because his wife, Melinda, “is in the advanced stages of pregnancy.”

Gates stopped short of making any announcements about a specific cause or charity, but he made it clear that, as he has said before, he will die a poorer man. Quoting from Andrew Carnegie’s “Gospel of Wealth,” Gates said the American steel magnate who established a network of libraries throughout the nation “didn’t believe in leaving lots and lots of money to his relatives.

“I have the same belief,” Gates said, adding to audience laughter, “Don’t tell my relatives that.”

Gates’ appearance was a philanthropic coming out of sorts.

At a similar function a year ago honoring his family’s involvement, he appeared restless and uncomfortable with the attention. Thursday night he stayed to chat with well-wishers.

His appearance also was an affirmation of his late mother’s wishes for him to be more involved in community and charity. Although the 40-year-old software mogul has given millions in grants and construction funds to Lakeside School, the University of Washington, Stanford University, United Way and others, he lacks the generous reputation of his Lakeside colleague and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

Publicly, Gates has been praised for his community involvement. He and his family were honored with the Seattle-King County Realtors Association “First Citizen Award” last year. Privately, arts and charity organizations have expressed disappointment at Gates’ level of participation.

Gates acknowledged he might have done more had he not been so focused on other areas.

His mother, who died nearly two years ago of cancer after a civic career that included board membership on the Seattle Foundation, often chided him, Gates confessed. But he was working 20-hour days and would tell her, “I’ve got things to do. This is a fast-growing business, mom.”

In the early 1980s Gates did establish a significant United Way commitment at Microsoft, where corporate legend is full of tales about top-level executives losing bets on whose division would raise the biggest contribution.

A favorite ploy was to cook the books so that both executives lost. One might have a higher total amount while the other had a higher percentage of giving. The execs were then forced to submit to “humiliating things” like dunking, pie-throwing and swimming in Lake Bill, a largish pond on the Microsoft campus.

The only problem is, “We’re running out of humiliating things for executives to do,” Gates confessed.

In response to a question afterward, he indicated he would not be using his vast financial resources to contribute to a solution to the Seahawks-Kingdome quandary.

“It looks like Paul (Allen) is doing just fine on his own,” Gates said with a grin.