Bill Gates On Trump Inauguration: Laughing At Tech Billionaires?
Did the tech elite truly believe they could influence policy for the greater good, or was something else at play? Bill Gates' reaction to his fellow tech billionaires attending Donald Trump's inauguration suggests a healthy dose of skepticism, revealing a complex interplay between power, politics, and personal convictions in the upper echelons of Silicon Valley.
Weeks before Donald Trump's inauguration as the 47th US president, the air in Washington was thick with anticipation and, for many, apprehension. The question of who would attend the ceremony became a subject of intense speculation, and the presence of several prominent tech CEOs raised eyebrows. While Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder and one of the world's wealthiest individuals, chose not to attend, a number of his peers, including Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and TikTok's Shou Zi Chew, were present. Gates' subsequent remarks on "The View" about their motivations have fueled considerable debate about the relationship between the tech industry and the Trump administration.
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | William Henry Gates III (Bill Gates) |
| Born | October 28, 1955 (age 68 years) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Education | Harvard University (dropped out) |
| Occupation | Business magnate, software developer, investor, author, philanthropist |
| Net Worth (2024) | Estimated $129 Billion (Forbes) |
| Spouse(s) | Melinda French Gates (m. 1994; div. 2021) |
| Children | Jennifer Katharine Gates, Rory John Gates, Phoebe Adele Gates |
| Key Achievements | Co-founder of Microsoft Corporation, Chairman of the Gates Foundation |
| Career Highlights | Led Microsoft to dominance in the personal computer operating system market; transitioned to philanthropy focusing on global health, poverty reduction, and education. |
| Professional Information | Chair of Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Involved in numerous investments through Cascade Investment. |
| Website | Gates Foundation Official Website |
Bill Gates, co founder of Microsoft and co chair of the Bill & Melinda
Bill Gates, co founder of Microsoft and co chair of the Bill & Melinda
Bill Gates, co founder of Microsoft and co chair of the Bill & Melinda
