Why Bill Gates’ Memoir ‘Source Code’ is Unlikely to Impress Critics of the Tech Tycoon and Philanthropist

Published : Feb 04, 2025 15:39 IST - 6 MINS READ The origin story of Microsoft and its founder, Bill Gates, has been told countless times in the media since the tech mogul first appeared in the public eye in the 1980s. “There is very little we don’t already know about Bill Gates’ personal story, and there is almost nothing in the book that is new or revelatory,” he said. “For years, Gates has normalised and legitimised the role of extreme wealth in democracy, certainly in American politics.”Tim SchwabInvestigative reporter and author, The Bill Gates Problem In August 2024, several African faith-based, farming, and environmental organisations publicly demanded reparations from the Gates Foundation. “If you look at the Gates Foundation, one of the projects that Bill Gates says he is the most proud of is a vaccine procurement mechanism based in Switzerland—most of the money for that project comes from taxpayers.” At the same time, Gates is connected to decision-makers through government contracts for business linked to his empire, and through political contribution, such as the reported $50 million donation to Trump’s 2024 presidential rival, Kamala Harris. “For years, Gates has normalised and legitimised the role of extreme wealth in democracy, certainly in American politics, and yes, someone like Elon Musk might represent a new step, a new evolution in that brand of oligarchy, but I think they are part of the same story,” said Schwab.