Melinda French Gates Questions Philanthropy of Musk, Thiel – 'I Would Not Call Those Men Philanthropists'

Melinda French Gates has criticized a new generation of billionaires, including Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk and PayPal Co-Founder Peter Thiel, for prioritizing public influence over philanthropy.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, she questioned the philanthropic efforts of these "billionaire activists," suggesting they primarily use their platforms to shape public opinion rather than donating significant sums to charitable causes. She also included Twitter Co-Founder Jack Dorsey and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman.

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"They use their voices and their megaphones, but I would not call those men philanthropists," French Gates told the Times.

Ackman fired back at French Gates on X, posting, "@melindagates apparently does not consider me to be a philanthropist yet the @PershingSqFdn (our family's foundation) and an affiliated DAF have made grants of more than $700m, have foundation assets of ~ $1 billion, and I am a signatory of the Giving Pledge. And unlike Melinda, every dollar of philanthropic gifts I have made came from money I earned, not resources I married into." 

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"All of that said, I don't believe that philanthropy is the answer to societal problems. @elonmusk has done more for the world with his for-profit enterprises than any philanthropist ever."

French Gates announced her departure from the Gates Foundation in May, signaling a shift in her philanthropic focus toward women and families, including reproductive rights advocacy. While stepping away from the co-chair role, she will continue to support organizations aligned with her mission.

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Her decision to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president, emphasizing the need for a pro-abortion rights leader, has heightened her public profile. French Gates told CBS Mornings that she has never endorsed a candidate and is an independent voter.

"I will continue to vote sometimes Democratic, sometimes Republican," she said. "But I think she is the right candidate right now."

In January, Musk criticized French Gates after announcing she would endorse President Joe Biden in the 2024 election.

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French Gates told the Times that she believes CEOs often advise on subjects outside their expertise and thinks Musk's criticism of her political activism is "silly."

"I've just watched tech leaders interviewed about their parenting style over the years," she said. "A male who has spent, you know, 60 hours at his company that week, and I'm sure he's a fantastic CEO and has done a great job. But then they get asked about parenting, and they spew all this stuff, and you think, something doesn't add up here, so some of these comments to me are just kind of silly."

French Gates said the 2022 Supreme Court decision overturned Roe v. Wade spurred her to participate in politics.

"I knew I had to speak out in favor of women's rights, and if there was a candidate who is against women's rights and says terrible things about women, there is no way I could vote for that person," she said.

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