Bill Gates got knighted today

But is not allowed to carry the "Sir"

[pmkpmk]

Bill Gates got knighted by the Queen of England today, and now carries the title "Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". Since he's neither British nor member of a Commonwealth state, he is not allwowed to carry the "Sir" in his name.

He was recommended by the Minister of Treasury Gordon Brown, because of his "outstanding contribution to economy, employment, education and the volunteership movement in Great Britain".

[ska_demon]

Yeah! Right!

Maybe George W Bush will give me some sort of Stateside recognition for my past attempts to spam the hell out of their financial industry ;o)

evil laugh he he he he he

Ska

[lZakl]

^^ ... I live in Washington State, where Mr. Gates gives MILLIONS [google.com] to the local schools. Worthy some sort of recognition I think... (Not to mention the other numerous contibutions he's made.) Sometimes, he gives more to the school systems here than the local government does.

-- Zak

[garyr_h]

Bill Gates is a kind man fortunately. He gets a lot of crap for having his monopoly, but outside of the business world he is great for society and for the world by his contributions to charities, schools, hospitals etc.

He donated $100 million to help fight aids. On one hand that is a lot of money.. but on the other compared to the amount of money he has it's not.

So maybe he's not that great... but at least he does have a heart (no matter how big or little it is) and donates a portion of it to a good cause.

[Milamber]

I'm still trying to figure out why the Queen of England would even consider knighting him, dispite his contributions, because he's not a member of Britain or a Commonwealth State... just doesn't seem right.

[hannamyluv]

The Gates Foundation has been a huge philinthropic organization. $100 million for AIDS is just the tip of what it has given. Listen and watch carefully, and you will see that many publically funded groups (like NPR) recieve money from it as well as many schools and charities. Bill Gates has pretty much declared that his kids will only recieve a small fraction of his personal fortune and that much of the rest will go helping people.

Bill Gates could have spent his money on himself and stupid TV stunts (like a certain internet billionaire I could name) and ensured that the next 10 generations of Gates would never have to lift a finger to work. Instead, he chose to help others.

Say what you will about MSN and their business practices, Bill Gates deserves his knighthood for being an extreamly generous man.

[olwen]

I'm still trying to figure out why the Queen of England would even consider knighting him, dispite his contributions, because he's not a member of Britain or a Commonwealth State... just doesn't seem right.

Bob Geldof (an Irish citizen) got a similar honour a few years back for his charity work.

[Automan Empire]

Bob Geldof (an Irish citizen) got a similar honour a few years back for his charity work.

Well, HE starred in Pink Floyd, The Wall. What has Bill Gates done that was nearly as cool?

Foo-lish jokes aside, I don't have a problem with Gates' wealth... but that PAPER CLIP has earned my wrath at every opportunity! Still, Knight?

[Essex_boy]

but on the other compared to the amount of money he has it's not.- Whats that got to do with it? He didnt have to give a penny?

I may not like Microsoft as a company, but Bill and his wife sure do some very good and generous deeds.

[pmkpmk]

I am humbled and delighted. I'm particularly pleased that this honour helps recognize the real heroes our foundation supports to improve health in poor countries. Their incredible work is helping ensure that one day all people - no matter where they are born - will have the same opportunity for a healthy life, and I'm humbled to share this honour with them.

Full coverage: [royal.gov.uk...]

Is it me or does Her Majesty looks a bit sceptical? I mean, it's an official photo, isn't it?

P.S. The Buckingham Palace seems to run IIS :-)

[volatilegx]

I'm still trying to figure out why the Queen of England would even consider knighting him, dispite his contributions, because he's not a member of Britain or a Commonwealth State... just doesn't seem right.

Previous U.S. citizens receiving honorary Knighthoods include former U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, and entertainer Bob Hope.

[Neo541]

Bill Gates the person got knighted, not Microsoft.

If you objectively look at what he had done *personally*, I don't see any problem with it.

[vabtz]

Good for him :-)

He has done lots of good and inspired a whole generation of geeks.

side note:
that scrolling nav bar on the royal site is teh suxors!

[garyr_h]

Whats that got to do with it? He didnt have to give a penny?

Look at it percentage wise... when was the last time you donated $30 and got knighted or praised by the media? ;) $100 million isn't crap to him.

I'm not saying I'm not glad that he did donate it, because I am. I'm just saying it's not worthy of knighthood.

Now someone who is making $15,000 a year but donated $100 of it to the tsunami releif fun.. now he/she SHOULD be knighted.

[Kirby]

>Look at it percentage wise... when was the last time you donated $30 and got knighted or praised by the media? ;) $100 million isn't crap to him.

Percentage wise that $100 million is leveraged to a do alot more than your $30.

The fact is that the Foundation, which Gates started in 2000, was funded by the transfer of $23 billion of his shares.

The Foundation donates a minimum of 5% (about $1 billion a year) just to maintain its charitable status.

[grelmar]

As much as I've grumbled about MS in the past in here...

Good on ya Bill.

And yes, he does deserve it. Far more than others who've been knighted in the past... Conrad Black comes to mind in the list of the undeserving.

The Gates Foundation hasn't just scattered money around to generate publcity, they've made highly targeted donations in large enough amounts so that other groups/agencies/NGOs have been able to set up trusts and stabilize their own annual funding,

That stability has given numerous organizations the breathing room they need to create the type of long term programs that really make a difference.

_{Ok, got that out of my system. Back to being crotchety.}

[shigamoto]

He definitley deserves it.

[Leosghost]

Not an M$ fan either ..but he personally does some good stuff that many other ultra rich folks don't even try to ..So Ok ..and with "Sir Bob".. he's in damn good company..

[pmkpmk]

Although he's not allowed to call himself "Sir Bill"...

[ronin]

A lot of eminent British achievers have been nominated for honours and have turned the honour down because of its association with Empire. Evidently Gates doesn't mind having an honour associated with invasion, colonisation, slaughter and oppression.

[vabtz]

so what.. he is an American, and everyone knows we like that sorta stuff.