The tech billionaire turned philanthropist has taken a cue from his longtime friend Warren Buffett.

Bill Gates quit his job as CEO of Microsoft ( MSFT 0.22% ) in 2000 at age 44. He had already become the wealthiest person in the world, reaching centibillionaire status briefly in 1999. He slowly stepped back from the company he founded over the next 20 years, ultimately resigning from its board in 2020.

Gates' focus over the last 25 years has shifted from building a leading technology company to solving some of the world's toughest health, equality, and educational challenges through the Gates Foundation. In that time, he and ex-wife Melinda French Gates donated about $60 billion of their wealth, making them two of the biggest donors in history. Their philanthropic giving is only

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