Microsoft
chairman Bill Gates plans to give himself a US$3bn (£1.6bn) bonus – but unlike
the majority of corporate executives, the world’s richest man won’t be keeping
a penny of it.
As
part of a plan to distribute $75bn (£40.7bn) to shareholders during the next
four years, Microsoft’s stockholders will receive a one-time dividend of $3 per
share.
As
the company’s largest stockholder, with 1.1 billion shares, Gates stands to
earn about $3bn.
However,
he plans to donate the windfall to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,
which works to expand access to technology through public libraries and improve
global health. The foundation estimates its endowment at $27bn (£14.6bn).
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"The
pledge today is recognition that our world, the nation and our region – now
more than ever – can and should dramatically improve equity in health,
education and access to information and human services for vulnerable
families," Gates said.
