Latest news with #Microsoft-related
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill Gates Pledging $200 Billion to a Worthy Cause
Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft with his late friend and business partner Paul Allen. The company became a major part of the computer age, and Gates amassed billions in fortune following the success of the company's hardware and software. He became the world's youngest billionaire at the age of 31, the year after Microsoft went public. Gates then became the world's first centibillionaire, with a net worth of over $100 billion. After stepping down from many of his Microsoft-related duties, Gates has dedicated the most recent portion of his life to philanthropy. In line with that pursuit, Gates has contributed to several foundations and causes that aim to improve the lives of others. On Monday, Gates announced his intention for one of his most substantial donation efforts. "I recently made a commitment that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years. The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa," Gates said on Monday in Ethiopia, according to a statement from his charity. "By unleashing human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity — and that path is an exciting thing to be part of," he added, noting that his net worth would drop by 99% over the next 20 years as a result of the pledge. Gates, his ex-wife Melinda, Warren Buffett and others joined The Giving Pledge, which encourages billionaires to donate 50% or more of their wealth to philanthropic causes and humanitarian efforts. Other notable signees include Elon Musk, Larry Ellison, Mark Zuckerberg and MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Earlier this month, Gates said that he was inspired to donate the majority of his fortune after reading a quote from industrialist Andrew Carnegie. In his 1899 essay "The Gospel of Wealth," Carnegie said that "the man who dies thus rich dies disgraced." Gates made his announcement at Nelson Mandela Hall at the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday. Over 12,000 attended the event in person and virtually, including government officials, diplomats and youth leaders. Bill Gates Pledging $200 Billion to a Worthy Cause first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 2, 2025
South China Morning Post
07-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Microsoft joint venture Wicresoft halts projects in China, lays off thousands of workers
Microsoft joint venture Wicresoft has put a halt to its China projects with the US technology giant, laying off around two thousand employees in the process, according to local media reports and some affected workers. Advertisement Employees at the Shanghai office of Wicresoft – a Bellevue, Washington-based business consulting venture founded by Microsoft and its Shanghai partners in 2002 – on Monday received emails that said their work related to the US company 'will be terminated'. According to the email, the decision to stop work on those projects was made because of 'geopolitical shifts and changes in the global business environment'. With expertise in information technology and telecommunications services as well as talent acquisition, Wicresoft provides advisory, solutions and operational support to various major brands. A Wicresoft employee, Vincent Gao, confirmed the email's authenticity. Gao, who joined the company in 2020, said Microsoft-related projects account for most of the firm's business. He said Wicresoft has set Tuesday as their last working day. Advertisement Phone calls made to Wicresoft went unanswered.
