Former employees claim Bill Gates behaved like 'absolute monarch'
Bill Gates, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft and philanthropist, has been accused of creating a culture of fear within his mega-charity organization. In a new book by New York Times journalist Anupreeta Das, former employees likened Gates's behavior to that of France's King Louis XIV. They described an atmosphere where staff members were apprehensive about his "inquisition" at the now-renamed Gates Foundation.
Gates's behavior contrasted with public perception
Despite being seen as a "global statesman" by the public, Gates was viewed as an "absolute monarch" by those who worked closely with him. A former employee told Das that Gates is the most intimidating person to brief because of his meticulous attention to detail. This revelation comes from Das's new book titled Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World.
Meetings with Gates were like 'king holding court'
A former executive of the foundation described meetings with Gates as akin to a "king holding court." Employees would carefully observe Gates's expressions during these sessions, interpreting his approval or disapproval from subtle cues. Das wrote that "the slightest hint of a smile or a nod could mean that he approved; an impassive face could mean he didn't." According to Das, Gates's feedback—or the absence of it—would be a topic of discussion among staffers for days afterward.
Gates's feedback dominated post-meeting discussions
The book also reveals that staff members would analyze his questions and expressions in detail. "Once the meeting ended, people would dissect Gates's questions and expressions for days, often celebrating if they concluded that they had impressed their boss," another person told the author. A former staffer shared that "even the absence of opprobrium was seen as validation," highlighting the intense scrutiny under which employees operated.
Meanwhile, Gates's team dismissed allegations as 'sensationalized' and 'false'
In response to these allegations, Gates's spokesperson dismissed the claims made in Das's book. The representative stated that the book relies almost exclusively on second and third-hand hearsay as well as anonymous sources. They further argued that it includes "highly sensationalized allegations and outright falsehoods" that ignore the actual documented facts their office provided to the author on numerous occasions.
