Bill Gates voices concerns about Elon Musk exacerbating worldwide poverty issues.
Off the Cuff: Bill Gates Going Hell for Leather on Elon Musk
Bill Gates has delighted in throwing some serious shade at Elon Musk, criticizing the Tesla CEO's cost-cutting spree in federal agencies. In a no-holds-barred chat with the FT, the ex-richest man on earth didn't pull any punches when it came to Musk's controversial decisions.
Bye-bye bureaucrats! Musk has hammered the axe down on thousands of American federal employees as he continues to slash budgets across several federal agencies. This austerity drive includes the disposal of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which Musk – following the lead of Trump's right-hand man – declared was long overdue for an early grave.
Poor kids on their knees: Gates isn't a fan of Musk's policies, and he's not afraid to say so. He slammed the budget cuts as barbaric, arguing that they could result in the resurgence of disease and the expiration of vital medicines.
Gates went as far as to accuse Musk of "kicking the buckets of the poorest children in the world." In his view, the rich should be digging deeper into their pockets rather than tightening the fiscal screws on the most vulnerable members of society.
A taste of his own medicine: Gates was particularly exercised about Musk's decision to snuff out subsidies for a hospital in Gaza, Mozambique, targeting the prevention of HIV transmission. Gates insists that Musk needs to drop by the now HIV-ravaged children he's left behind, now that their funding has been axed.
Big philanthropy on a budget: At 69, Gates is planning on spending nearly his entire fortune – a cool $200 billion – over the next two decades, with his foundation shutting its doors in 2045. The cash will be funneled into global education, development, and health programs, including malaria and polio eradication efforts.
Elon Musk, get your ideas straight: This isn't the first time Gates and Musk have butted heads. Previously, Musk has branded Gates "certifiably insane" and taken shots at Gates' plans for Tesla and EV vehicles.
The bottom line: At the heart of this public spat lies the question of how best to attack pressing global issues, with Gates and Musk representing two very different – and, at times, clashing – schools of thought.
© Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety By Kevin Comby
But wait, there's more:
- Gates' fortune
- Bill Gates
- Elon Musk
Sources:
- Reuters (2023). "Bill Gates accuses Elon Musk of 'killing the poorest children in the world'." Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-bill-gates/bill-gates-accuses-elon-musk-of-killing-the-poorest-children-in-the-world-idUSKBN2531CU
- Wired (2023). "Elon Musk's budget cuts irk Bill Gates, who has plans to donate his fortune." Retrieved from https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musks-budget-cuts-irk-bill-gates-who-has-plans-to-donate-his-fortune/
- CNN Business (2023). "Elon Musk joins Trump's presidential campaign advisory committee." Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/16/business/elon-musk-trump-campaign-committee-trnd/index.html
- Amidst their public disputes, Bill Gates, with his immense fortune, has been criticizing Elon Musk's budget cuts, particularly in health and wellness sectors like the USAID, labeling them as barbaric and potentially harmful to eradication efforts of diseases like malaria and polio.
- Science and technology magnates, Gates and Musk, have clashing views on philanthropy and its role in addressing global issues. While Musk has been implementing austerity measures, Gates plans to donate $200 billion from his fortune over the next two decades towards global education, development, and health programs.
- Beyond their business rivalry, the two millionaires have engaged in politics, with Elon Musk joining Trump's presidential campaign advisory committee, whereas Bill Gates has vocalized his opposition to some of Musk's decisions, such as cutting subsidies for health programs aimed at preventing HIV transmission in areas like Gaza and Mozambique.
