I am surprised that you choose Bill Gates as an example of a philanthropist. Philanthropy is a way of life, a form of altruism which must be lived at each and every moment. If one acquires great wealth through morally questionable means, such as did Alfred Nobel (the inventor of dynamite), no amount of "charity" or "prizes" will exculpate that which God hath against her. Even so, one does not become generous by giving some fraction, even 95%, of some ludicrous fortune she already possesses, which will hardly be missed. She becomes generous by making true sacrifices.

His funding of causes like vaccinations against Polio are unquestionably a definitive good in the world, but will the sum total of his actions, when weighed in the balance, be a positive thing? One must necessarily ask the critical question, was there another way to achieve these positive goods in the world (such as Polio vaccinations), one which had fewer ulterior side effects.

The evils he enables are innumerable, dystopian non-free software that controls and spies on the public, monopolist tactics aimed at breaking up potential competition, the list goes on and on. Apparently, there is a non-exhaustive list here: http://techrights.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Although Gates does "charity", in my heart of hearts I feel like he is simply using his money and influence to play "kingmaker", steering the outcome of various struggles for true freedom across the world towards his monopolistic liking, one in which he continues to profit. Perhaps I am being cynical, but I'm judging based on the evident patterns.

He has profited, so outrageously so, so immodestly so, to the tune that he, alone, now possesses enough wealth to pay for the daily expenses of 1.2 billion people. Millions and millions of people combined have less net wealth than Bill Gates has in his wallet, while 30,000 to 60,000 die of hunger per day. Do you not see anything slightly vacuous in a system that ordains that one person should have so much, while so many have so little? Is this fair, congruous, morally virtuous?

This means death, disease, poverty, restriction. In India there is a battle now waging where they are trying to enable generic drugs to be made from patented drugs. The reasoning is that, without the generics, the majority of people, the poor, would not be able to afford drugs like cancer drugs. In effect, patents are condemning these people to death. And yet were does Bill Gates stand when it comes to patents?

Even his "charity" comes with strings attached, and seeks a reward, an ROI, of it's own on donations.

And is it not more generous to give freely of yourself when you have nothing, than to give even a considerable fraction of your still inconsiderable wealth.

There is another person that I would single out as having lived a good life. While he doesn't have as much money to give (in a comedic attempt to invest in righteousness), I would bet my life any day that Richard Stallman has attained a higher degree of moral perfection, and that his actions have created more good throughout the world through his efforts to introduce free software, than Bill Gates could ever hope to even if he were to repent. I'm not sure how well you are aware of free software, Microsoft certainly won't fund commercials extolling its virtue, but it is software which prioritizes the freedoms of the user, and the community, over the rights of the copyright holder. You should really see the movie "Revolution OS" which in part tells his story (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7707585592627775409). Will you, and if not, why not? Does it make you uncomfortable?

Ultimately I feel as though history (and if not history, then God) will rightly judge Bill Gates as an insignificant loser who misplayed his hand. Much better, IMHO, is to look into something like this: http://www.fsf.org/

Ainnir Dheas Na GCiabhfholt Donn

             Lyrics:                      English Translation:

    'Sé deir Colm Cille linn              Colm Cille says that
   Go hIfreann nach dtéid fial        The generous don't go to hell
Lucht an tsairbhris go gceileann        That those who have money
              siad
      A hpáirt mhór le Dia             Snatch their part from God
      Nach mór an tubaiste                    What a shame
  D'aon duine á dearnadh ariamh             For a human being
       Oiread a chruinniú                     To save money
Is a 'choinneodh as Parrthas iad       In order to avoid Paradise