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October 3, 2010 7:00 PM

Bill and Melinda Gates: The $60 Billion Donation

By
Overtime Staff
Topics
Correspondent Candids

What's it like to hang out with Bill and Melinda Gates? "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley knows. He spent time with the Gates at their foundation in Washington state and traveled to India with Melinda, where some of the Gates' fortune is providing medicine and vaccines that might literally save millions of lives.

One of the things "60 Minutes Overtime" found most intriguing is the promise Bill and Melinda have made to their three children about their inheritance. Are the kids going to be okay? (Yes.)

Watch Scott Pelley's full report.

For this week's Correspondent Candid, "60 Minutes Overtime" Editor Ann Silvio asks Scott Pelley to help us understand Bill and Melinda's relationship and unusual life at home. It's a family where being described as "numeric" is a high compliment.

Pelley has some amusing stories to share: what do you say when the world's richest couple shows up for their interview in matching outfits? And some not so amusing moments as well, such as when Pelley was attacked by a rabid dog while shooting a stand up for his story. What some correspondents won't go through for a great "60 Minutes" piece!

Get to know Bill and Melinda and then tell us what you think.


Add a Comment See all 220 Comments
by eidida May 3, 2011 6:38 AM EDT
Dear Sir/Madam,

I need a big help for my aunties as she's been on dialysis for more than 6 (six) years... and now she need the help coz none can help her anymore.....Your big support to her would be much appreciated..... She can't walk now for almost 4 months and really sad. I'm struggling for helping out her but i can't do much more...Help me please...she needed and i will give the details of her condition. Thanks God for people who is really concern and wants to support her so much. God bless you all... I'm helping her everyday. With my respect - Ip Note : i can be contacted at my email: ida.panjaitan@ericsson.com Many thanks for those people who really care of my aunties. God bless you abundantly.
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by rarchimedes November 1, 2010 8:41 PM EDT
The naturalnews is another of those groups that I call twisters. They take legitimate science and claim that it supports their positions when it does not in any way. On the other hand, what is clear to me is that the law of unintended side effects is abroad and ready to bite. In theory, eventually, after a few generations, when children start to reliably live to adulthood, parents will start having fewer children, given that confidence. The problem is that modern technologies act quickly, while social change comes slowly. In those generations when a million deaths from malaria don't happen and half a million children don't die of rotavirus, all per year, population in some of these areas may double or triple or more. The land cannot bear that load. The economy cannot bear that load. Nothing can bear that load. What is most common in such a situation is that other elements of the four horsemen take over and adjust the population back to the bearing level of the land. Malnutrition becomes even more endemic than it is already. Other diseases, even old ones thought defeated, surface or resurface and attack the weakened population, or people just starve. A certain number of starving people will take the modern implements of war now available to them and try to take what they need. Others will resist them. Millions will die, possibly more horribly than from the death we have "saved" them from. The only real solution to the problems of these currently disease ridden people is education, and the implements to defeat the conditions that cause the disease. If one is busy learning and doing, more children quickly become a hindrance, especially if the good stuff is only offered people who stop exacerbating the population problem. You cannot cure people of overpopulating the world. You have to educate and motivate them, while respecting their autonomy as much as possible. What you cannot do is toss technology into a society that cannot handle the results of that technology and not expect it to act like an atom bomb.
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by rarchimedes November 1, 2010 7:21 PM EDT
The Gates represent the latest generation of the old American tradition of robber barons, stealing for most of their lives, and then, when they have more than any rational person could ever want, trying to buy back public opinion by their latter day good works. It is certainly better than if they used their wealth for further evil, but it does not excuse their previous behavior. What is worse, their charity will cause rampant destruction, as has every "missionary" effort in the third world. If the malaria vaccine and the mosquito nets work, we will have a one generation population explosion in a part of the world that cannot support the population that it already has. No society, much less ones so primitive as those in the 3rd world, can sustain that type of population explosion. Much of Africa's environmental wealth has been exploited and/or destroyed with the population explosion that has followed the simplest of medical and technological interventions, even with the depredations of the AIDS virus. I would not wish such evil as AIDS or malaria on any family anywhere, but without education and societal change, mere survival becomes a Malthusian disaster.
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by jazzbullet October 28, 2010 12:52 PM EDT
They bought majority of Monsanto. There fund was a perfect way to keep butts out. Soon they will own all the seeds in the world.
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by Maggie Muggins October 12, 2010 2:09 PM EDT
I would like to point out that the character represented by the Gates far exceeds any that many of our corporate and legislative folks possess. We have witnessed over the past 8 years of what's in it for me. The strife of the needy-greedy to make a buck on doing the right thing(?)has set a new example of American Meism. The Gates, however, have set a new benchmark of leadership. Perhaps those that think their actions are of a saintly nature will see that their benchmark falls short. Thanks to Melinda and Bill again for setting an example of someone who can accomplish greatness by seeing the big picture and not the need to fill their pocket/or what's in it for me.
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by loisfloyd October 11, 2010 4:58 PM EDT
God bless the Gates family. As I understand it, seems I heard THEY made the money and it SHOULD be THEIRS TO DO AS they wish. Too many green eyed people out there: get out and do your own thing--it might just work out. lois
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by pmfast October 11, 2010 2:37 PM EDT
60 minutes did a good job in the interview however, i kept getting the usual hint of people that make money are bad. The todays theme of wealth distribution is the key to a happy life; millionairs and billionairs provide many many jobs and microsoft provides 100,000 jobs and provides (debatable) a valeu to the entire computer community. what i did not like at the ned of the interview was the closing remark, " to see how much ineheritance the kids will get, go to www.60minutes....." there was no mention on hwo to help their eforts around education in the USA, to contribute to helping children with aides, etc. Also, they did not mention the millions of lives that have been improved by their foundation, especially with their efforts around mosquito netting and malaria.
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by Fannie Annie October 11, 2010 2:28 PM EDT
I agree. This is the country where he made his billions, and this is where he needs to spend it. We have people like my kids (3 of whom have lost jobs due to this job-losing economy) My retirement income isn't enough to help them, or to buy me new glasses, and go to a decent doctor who knows how to balance my endocrine system so I can get back my strength and energy. The rank & file doctors only want to fill me with drugs, thanks to Big Pharma!!! There are several more houses now empty in this sub-division because of this job losing economy.
His money could get rid of Nancy Pilosi, Harry Reid, Barney Frank, and even possibly Obama and crowd. Where is his patriotism, or is it he just obeys his spouse and her wants, like a pet puppy?!!!
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by 2004--2008 October 13, 2010 9:47 AM EDT
Perhaps you would like a new pair of glasses instead of 3 children's lives? They saving humans in horrible conditions. Despite the job market, in general we have it very comfortable with our basic needs in this country. There are parts that do need help. I saw a piece of the article that says they're trying to help reduce the drop out rate here. Sounds like a worthy U.S.A. cause...
by alexanderrcm October 18, 2010 4:25 PM EDT
You know it's way over due for the good people of the US to realize that they are responsible for Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barney Frank, and Obama and his crowd. Voter fraud and pumping up Democratic voter roles with marginal "new" US citizens was done under our own noses. Candidates from both parties were picked by a few, while ordinary citizens didn't have time to get involved. Democracy doesn't work well with lazy citizenship!!!
by zaneu October 11, 2010 1:19 PM EDT
Bill Gates made his money through the generosity of the U.S. people and this government. Microsoft has been engaged in countless legal battles because of the company's evil shenanighans, and it lost a big legal battle in Europe. Now he's a zillionaire, and chooses to reward NOT America, but foreign governments. Following him adoringly are the usual camp follower-loonies, praising this shady businessman for helping others while the U.S. sinks lower and lower. Why doesn't Gates LIVE in India? Don't tell me there are no medical problems Dr. Gates can fund here. No, he needs the Indian population as indentured servants for the future.
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by York_walse October 14, 2010 12:44 PM EDT
What is the generosity of US people to do with the profit of Microsoft? The price of Windows and Office package are fixed. He made his money through providing software, which you are not forced to buy.
by genedoug October 11, 2010 12:54 PM EDT
It is comical to see the way people want to spend the money of millionaires. It doesn't matter whether it is J. Paul Getty, Airstotle Onassis, or anyone else, they always attract the attention of people who insist they are doing it wrong.
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