After taking over Twitter last year, Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk on Sunday expressed his willingness to "buy" the World Health Organization (WHO).
What Happened: Musk, over the weekend, responded to an unusual request from an entrepreneur named Dr. Eli David on Twitter, asking if the billionaire could "buy WHO from Bill Gates and make it about health?"
"How much does it cost?," Musk responded.
See Also: Bill Gates Worries ‘We’re Making Same Mistakes’ Prepping For Next Pandemic — Wants This Done Instead
The WHO is a United Nations agency entrusted with overseeing global public health matters and is not owned by Bill Gates.
Although the WHO is run by member states which donate public funds, it relies heavily on private donors. Over the years, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – established by Gates and his former wife, Melinda Gates – has become the second biggest donor to the WHO. The foundation has played a crucial role in supporting the agency's various initiatives and programs to improve global health outcomes.
The donation from the Gates Foundation to the WHO has been met with mixed reactions. Many critics have argued that such large funding from billionaires gives the Gates an outsized influence and underscores the chronic funding problem WHO faces even as it contends with more and more health crises.
Why It Matters: Musk’s recent tweet has caused a stir on Twitter, triggering memories of his 2017 discussion about potentially acquiring the micro-blogging platform.
Back then, Musk openly expressed his fondness for Twitter in a tweet stating, “I love Twitter.”
In response, a user suggested that he should consider buying it. In his typical fashion, Musk playfully responded with a question: “How much is it?” And from that point on, the billionaire today owns the platform.
Read Next: Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation Sells 20% Stake In Berkshire Hathaway
Photo courtesy: Thomas Hawk on Flickr
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