After decades of staying out of politics, billionaire Microsoft co-founder and global philanthropist Bill Gates is reportedly getting involved in the 2024 election — with a $50 million contribution to the effort to elect Vice President Kamala Harris.
According to The New York Times, Gates, who is typically withdrawn and secretive about his politics and has not made a public endorsement in the election, meant for the contribution to be kept out of the public eye, contributing the funds to a so-called “dark money” political nonprofit, Future Forward USA Action.
“In private calls this year to friends and others, Mr. Gates has expressed concern about what a second Donald Trump presidency would look like, according to a person briefed on Mr. Gates’s thinking, although he has stressed that he could work with either candidate,” reported Theodore Schleifer. “Mr. Gates does not have a deep relationship with Ms. Harris, but he has celebrated the Biden-Harris administration’s work on climate change.” Moreover, this comes as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation “is significantly concerned about potential cuts to family planning and global health programs if Mr. Trump is elected, according to two people close to the foundation.”
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Asked for comment by The Times, Gates said, “I support candidates who demonstrate a clear commitment to improving health care, reducing poverty and fighting climate change in the U.S. and around the world. I have a long history of working with leaders across the political spectrum, but this election is different, with unprecedented significance for Americans and the most vulnerable people around the world.”
Since the Supreme Court’s series of decisions extending First Amendment protections to unlimited independent campaign financing, a number of ultra-wealthy individuals have tried to throw their resources behind getting candidates of their choice elected.
A number of billionaires have lined up behind former President Donald Trump as well, including reclusive railroad heir Timothy Mellon, and most famously, tech tycoon Elon Musk, who is heavily funding America PAC, the group that is handling much of the Trump campaign’s voter canvassing operations.
