Microsoft founder Bill Gates has quietly stepped into the 2024 U.S. presidential election by giving a huge financial boost to Kamala Harris’s campaign. Gates, who’s known for his work in tech and philanthropy, donated $50 million to a group called Future Forward, a super PAC (political action committee) that backs Harris. But here’s the catch—this donation was meant to stay a secret. It wasn’t until The New York Times uncovered it that the public learned about Gates’ involvement.
What is Future Forward?
Future Forward is a super PAC that was created in 2018 by former Obama campaign staffers. The group rose to prominence during the 2020 presidential race, spending millions to support Joe Biden. Now, for the 2024 election, Future Forward is back in action and has already raised a massive $700 million, mostly from big tech companies like Meta, Google, and major investors like Bain Capital and Bridgewater Associates. Just last week, they rolled out $75 million worth of ads to support Kamala Harris’s presidential bid.
Why Is Bill Gates Donating So Much Money?
This isn’t the first time Gates has supported Democratic candidates. In fact, he’s been a big supporter of the party for years. Back in 2020, Gates, through his foundation, donated nearly $70 million to another nonprofit that also used “dark money” (money whose donors aren’t revealed) to back Democratic causes and candidates. Gates also has strong ties to the Clintons, with whom he’s worked on global health projects for over a decade. His preference for Democratic candidates is no secret—he has publicly praised Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in the past.
What’s Gates Getting Out of This?
Gates has a lot to gain if Harris continues the policies of Joe Biden. During Biden’s presidency, the Gates Foundation’s endowment grew from $69 billion to over $75 billion. Gates also made huge profits from the COVID-19 pandemic through vaccine companies like BioNTech, Pfizer, and others that his foundation had invested in.
But it’s not just about money. Gates has been a key player in shaping global policy, from promoting vaccines and public health to backing projects focused on reducing emissions, and synthetic foods, and even predicting future pandemics. He’s also deeply involved in efforts to fight what he calls “misinformation,” having spent millions supporting major media outlets like CNN, the BBC, and The Financial Times to ensure favorable coverage of his work and that of his allies.
Gates’ Vision for the Future
As Gates sees it, the 2024 election is crucial—not just for the U.S., but for the world. In a recent interview, Gates hinted that having someone younger like Kamala Harris in the White House would be beneficial, especially when it comes to navigating complex issues like artificial intelligence (AI). He also sees Harris as the best candidate to continue the global health initiatives he’s championed, particularly in light of the rising influence of Trump-style Republicans, whom he views as hostile to science, vaccines, and technology.
The Bigger Picture
While Gates’ influence on U.S. politics has been happening behind the scenes for years, his latest donation sheds light on just how much power he holds in shaping the political landscape. With his backing, Harris’s campaign is getting a significant boost, but it also raises questions about the role billionaires like Gates play in elections. Why does someone like Gates, who has no official role in government, have so much sway over who becomes the next president? And what does that mean for democracy?
As Gates continues to pour millions into political causes, it’s clear that his vision for the future of the U.S. and the world is closely tied to the candidates he supports. Whether that’s a good thing or not is up for debate, but one thing’s for sure: Bill Gates is playing a bigger role in the 2024 election than most people realize.
