Bill Gates donates $50 million to Kamala Harris

The founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, supports the Democratic Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, in the presidential race in 2024, reports The New York Times.

The founder of Microsoft, Bill GatesPhoto byGetty Images

Sources close to Gates confirmed that the billionaire, known for staying out of politics publicly, has donated about $50 million to a nonprofit that supports Kamala Harris.

In a statement to The New York Times, Gates neither confirmed nor denied the donation, but said, "This election is different." Fortune has reached out to Gates for comment.

According to a report by The New York Times, Gates is concerned about former President Donald Trump's economic policies and possible cuts to family planning and global health programs, key issues for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Bookmakers are predicting a Trump victory

Gates' donation in support of the Democratic candidate comes after he changed his mind in recent days about her chances of defeating Trump in the presidential election.

The platform Polymarket, which predicts the movement of cryptocurrencies, announced bets of $ 2.3 billion on the outcome of the election and predicted Trump with a probability of 64%.

Billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller suggested in an interview with Bloomberg last week that market insiders were rooting for a Trump victory.

" VOTE "Photo byGetty Images

Gates' ex-wife also donated to Kamala Harris

Bill Gates' ex-wife, also a billionaire philanthropist Melinda French Gates, endorsed Harris in July and made a large donation to her campaign.

"I'm happy to support Kamala," French Gates told Stephen Colbert's "The Late Show" in July. "I've worked with her before, she knows what we need in society," she added.

French Gates previously endorsed President Biden in June, and it was the first time she had declared herself a presidential candidate.

Billionaire Lauren Powell Jobs, who is one of her longtime close friends, also donated to Harris. Powell Jobs and her philanthropic and investment firm, the Emerson Collective, have heavily funded Democratic politics in recent years.