Giving it away

These billionaires have now taken the Bill and Melinda Gates pledge - to give away 50% of their fortunes either during their lifetime, or at death:

• Paul Allen


• Laura and John Arnold


• Michael Bloomberg


• Warrem Buffett


• Barry Diller and Diane Von Furstenberg


• Larry Ellison


• Bill and Melinda Gates


• Barron Hilton


• Jon and Karen Huntsman


• Joan and Irwin Jacobs


• George Kaiser


• Kenneth and Elaine Langone


• Lorry Lokey


• George Lucas


• Alfred Mann


• Bernie and Billie Marcus


• Tom Monaghan


• Bernard and Barbro Osher


• Pierre and Pam Omidyar


• Ronald Perelman


• Pete Peterson


• T. Boone Pickens


• Julian Robertson


• David Rockefeller


• David Rubenstein


• Herb and Marion Sandler


• Roger and Vicki Sant


• Michelle Chan and Patrick Shoon-Shiong


• John Walter Scott


• Jim and Marilyn Simons


• Thomas Steyer


• Jim and Virginia Stowers


• Jeff Skoll


• Ted Turner


• Sanford and Joan Weill


• Shelby White

I just hope they have my address. All donations gratefully received!

I think this is a wonderful idea; I hope many more technologists (in particular Mr Jobs? Mr Zuckerberg? Messrs Yang and Filo?) adopt this pledge.

Bill and Melinda are famous for their plan for their children. When asked about leaving so much money to his kids, Bill told a reporter something along these lines: "I don't think children should start out expecting to have everything they want, so we plan to leave most of the money to our foundation. Our kids will just get $10million each". Yes, that's the way to teach them how the other half lives! LOL

Prop 8 Overturned! Yay!

Of course, this will go to appeal again, and probably end up in the Supreme Court.