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Education: Harvard University, Drop Out
Software visionary regains title as the world's
richest man despite losing $18 billion in the
past 12 months. Stepped down from day-to-day
duties at Microsoft last summer to devote his
talents and riches to the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation. Organization's assets were $30
billion in January; annual letter lauds
endowment manager Michael Larson for limiting
last year's losses to 20%. Gates decided to
increase donations in 2009 to $3.8 billion, up
15% from 2008. Dedicated to fighting hunger in
developing countries, improving education in
America's high schools and developing vaccines
against malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS.
Appointed Microsoft Office veteran Jeffrey
Raikes chief exec of Gates Foundation in
September. Gates remains Microsoft chairman.
Sells shares each quarter, redeploys proceeds
via investment vehicle Cascade; more than half
of fortune invested outside Microsoft. Stock
down 45% in past 12 months. "Creative
capitalist" wants companies to match
profitmaking with doing good.
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