• fluxion@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    You make it sound like this is a money making scheme but he’s still out about $170 billion compared to other billionaires who pat themselves on the back for a $10k donation here and there or try to use their money to destroy democracy so they can be even more obscenely rich and powerful. $200 billion will go a long way in a developing continent.

    • jmcs@discuss.tchncs.de
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      3 days ago

      Which still has no material impact on his well being and keeps most people distracted from his behaviours from all kinds of inappropriate conduct at Microsoft to his efforts to rehabilitate Epstein after his first conviction, with a bunch of economic crimes and things that should be economic crimes in the middle.

      • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        Not to mention, foundations like that are a frequent tax dodge, and is also reputation laundering.

        Bill is basically a modern Carnegie. Sure he gives a shit load of money away, but also goes around paying people to fuck over anyone for a buck.

        It’s like playing fable, going to a vendor and buying all their gems only to sell it back at an inflated price (rinse and repeat, you’ll be rich.)

        Then going and fucking over the entire town to get rental properties.

        Then going to the temple of light and paying to change your alignment.

        You’ve still got all the properties and you’re still making money hand over fist but everyone thinks you’re some sort of hero.

        • Ledericas@lemm.ee
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          3 days ago

          He’s doing this to distance himself from Epstein, and him being ruthless business in the 80s and 90s. Even his vaccine initiative has a ulterior motive, look up vaccine colonization and gates.

      • fluxion@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        Nothing any billionaire does will ever have any material impact on them financially.

        Whether or not billionaires should exist on the first place is a separate topic that I’m guessing we both agree on. But they exist nonetheless, and they certainly have a material impact on the world, so all that leaves you with is comparing them against their peers to get a better idea of how truly greedy the worst of them are.

    • ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net
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      4 days ago

      You make it sound like he actually lost some money. It’s all just for show. It’s not like he wanted to buy something but decided to donate money instead. He can still afford absolutely everything he could even want. He’s not poorer in any meaningful way. The money his foundation has gives him power. Power to influence governments and policy (like he did with common core). His foundation has now more money than he donated so he has more power than before. It’s a PR stunt.