Bill Gates has made a surprising decision regarding the inheritance he plans to leave for his children, indicating that he isn’t passing on as much of his substantial wealth as many might expect.

The renowned co-founder of Microsoft shares three children—Jennifer, aged 28, Rory, aged 25, and Phoebe, aged 22—with his former spouse, Melinda French Gates. In a recent discussion, he elaborated on his philosophy about wealth transfer and how families of considerable means often distribute their assets among their heirs.

During his appearance on the March 29 episode of the Figuring Out with Raj Shamani podcast, Gates stated, “Everybody gets to decide on that.” He emphasized that while his children enjoyed a privileged upbringing and received a quality education, they would inherit less than one percent of his total wealth.

Even though this small fraction represents a significant sum—given that Gates’s net worth is estimated to be around $108 billion as of 2025 according to Forbes—this means that even one percent amounts to over $1 billion. The 69-year-old billionaire explained that giving his children a larger inheritance “wouldn’t be a favor to them.”

He further articulated his views by stating, “It’s not a dynasty.” Gates clarified that he isn’t expecting his children to manage or take over Microsoft. Instead, his goal is to provide them with the opportunity to attain their own achievements and become successful individuals without being overshadowed by the immense luck and fortune he has experienced throughout his life.