Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who is also one of the richest people in the world, isn't planning to retire anytime soon. He wants to keep going just like his longtime friend and legendary investor Warren Buffett, who's still going strong in his 90s!.
In a recent conversation with CNBC Make It, Bill Gates brushed off any notion of retirement. The 68-year-old Microsoft co-founder expressed his desire to emulate Warren Buffett, who continues to run Berkshire Hathaway at the age of 94.
Gates made it clear that the prospect of scaling back his workdays holds no allure for him. His ambition? To maintain his full-time work schedule for at least another decade, or as long as his health permits!
So, what's keeping the tech mogul busy? For one, he serves as a technology advisor to Microsoft, the tech giant he co-founded back in 1975. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Gates devotes a significant portion of his time to tackling some of the world's most pressing issues.
These global challenges - ranging from disease and poverty to climate change and gaps in healthcare and education access - take centre stage in his five-part Netflix docuseries, aptly titled "What's Next? The Future With Bill Gates."
While Gates still has a lot on his plate, and he still aims to work full-time for many more years to come, his current schedule is a far cry from the intensity of his early career. In fact, it was Warren Buffett who convinced Gates he should take it easier.
In a joint interview with Buffett in 2017, Bill Gates recounted Buffett's advice, "You don't have to fill every minute in your schedule to be a serious businessperson."
These instances show how close Bill Gates is to Warren Buffett, and the deep impact the Oracle of Omaha has had on the tech titan over the last few decades. But how did their friendship begin?
According to The New York Times, Gates and Buffett's friendship began in 1991 when Bill Gates's mother, Mary Gates, invited Buffett to their family retreat at Hood Canal near Seattle for the Fourth of July.
Gates initially saw Buffett as just a "stockbroker," but after spending 11 hours talking about everything from business to philanthropy, they hit it off. This was the start of a lasting friendship that has endured for decades, despite their very different personalities.
Their shared values were clear when Buffett, inspired by Andrew Carnegie's belief in using wealth for the greater good, made headlines in 2006. Buffett donated most of his fortune to charity, including a large portion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to address global issues like healthcare, education, and poverty.
However, as happens with many friendships, reportedly some differences have crept up between the two billionaires in recent times. Gates hasn't mentioned Buffett much on his blog lately, and Buffett has reportedly cut back on interactions due to his age.
According to The New York Times, Buffett has also been frustrated with the Gates Foundation's management. He prefers efficiency and simplicity and has criticised the foundation for being too bureaucratic and costly.
However, publicly Gates and Buffett continue to say their friendship is still strong. Both of them continue to speak highly of each other. Gates values Buffett's contributions to their charitable work, and Buffett often recalls their shared good times and laughs with fondness.
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