I recently read an interview where Bill Gates talks about his inheritance strategy, and I must say his philosophy is quite interesting. With a net worth close to 128 billion dollars according to Forbes, he could literally leave millions to his children, but he chose otherwise. His three children will receive less than 1% of his total wealth, which is just over a billion each.

What strikes me is the consistency in his reasoning. Gates explained that he wants his children to build their own path to success rather than live in the shadow of paternal wealth. He clearly said: he doesn't ask them to manage Microsoft, he wants them to have their own income and results. Jennifer graduated in biology from Stanford, Rory from the University of Chicago, Phoebe also from Stanford. Educated kids who are building their lives.

What is even more relevant is where the rest of Bill Gates' wealth ends up. Most of it goes to the Gates Foundation because Gates believes his resources are more useful in helping those who truly need it. Vaccines, polio eradication, global challenges – this is where he focuses his impact.

An interesting parallel: his friend Warren Buffett has a slightly different approach but with the same core principle. At Thanksgiving 2024, Buffett donated 1.143 billion dollars in Berkshire shares to family foundations managed by his three children. But the rest of the estate will go to a charitable trust after his death, with the children unanimously deciding how to use it. Buffett says something wise: wealthy parents should leave enough for their children to do anything, but not so much that they have nothing to strive for.

This conversation reminds me how important mindset is in building wealth and meaning. It’s not just about numbers; it’s about values. Both Gates and Buffett have seen families destroyed by poorly managed inheritances. That’s why Buffett advises parents to read the will to their family members while they are still alive, so everyone understands the decisions and there are no unpleasant surprises.

Bill Gates’ wealth remains one of the most discussed in the world, but what matters is how it is used. And Gates’ vision of generational wealth is definitely that of someone who has thought long and hard about what it really means to leave an inheritance.