Zuckerberg and Chan Pledge to Give Away 99% of Their Fortune to Create a Better World

Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook, and his wife Priscilla Chan have announced the birth of their daughter Max, and with it, a plan to give away 99% of their 45 billion-dollar fortune to create a better world for future generations. The couple has written an open letter to their daughter, outlining their vision for a world without disease, poverty, and inequality. They plan to use their wealth to cure disease, harness green energy, reduce poverty, and promote equality, and have committed to giving away their Facebook shares during their lifetimes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The couple plans to give away 99% of their 45 billion-dollar fortune, currently valued at approximately 30 billion pounds, to create a better world for future generations.
  • They have set out a detailed plan to use their wealth to tackle a range of global issues, including disease, poverty, and inequality.
  • They plan to invest in education and medical research, with the goal of curing diseases and increasing access to healthcare.
  • They aim to reduce poverty and promote equality by investing in green energy and spreading access to the internet to more people around the world.
  • Mark Zuckerberg has commited to continuing in his role as Facebook CEO for "many, many years" while also starting work on building a better future.
  • The couple's plans echo those of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, who have set up a foundation to do good around the world.

Statistics:

  • The couple's fortune is valued at approximately 30 billion pounds.
  • They plan to give away 99% of their fortune, which is equivalent to approximately 29.7 billion pounds.
  • More than four billion people are not online, and the couple aim to increase access to the internet to promote equality and prosperity.
  • They plan to start work on building a better future immediately, with investments in education, healthcare, and green energy.

Sources:

  • "Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan are celebrating the birth of a baby girl - and have announced they are giving away 99% of their 45 billion-dollar fortune to good causes." - [The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/01/facebook-founder-mark-zuckerberg-and-his-wife-priscilla-chan-are)
  • "The couple wrote an open letter which they shared on the social media platform which he invented, where they spoke of creating a better world for their first child, Max, and future generations." - [The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/microsoft-bill-gates-and-his-wife-melinda-hope-to-help-create-a-better-world-for-their-first-child-max-a7425426.html)