Gates donates another 5 bn

The extra cash brings the foundation8217;s total assets to more than 17 billion, the statement said. Gates is the founder of software mega corporation Microsoft. According to Forbes magazine, he is the planet8217;s richest man with an estimated worth of 90 billion.

Gates8217; huge increase in wealth last year came largely from his Microsoft stock. For last year8217;s ranking, Microsoft was trading at about 42 per share on the Nasdaq. Now it trades around 95.

Global health is a major focus of the foundation8217;s activities.Recent gifts include 50 million toward a new vaccine for Malaria; 100 million for vaccines to children in developing countries, and 50 million administered by Columbia University to prevent maternal death in pregnancy and child birth in the poorest countries. Gates has given away more money to charity than any living American, according to the Foundation Center, which tracks charities.