Walt Disney has long been rumored to have preserved his body in a cryogenic chamber for a future revival. Google recently established Calico, a biotech company aimed at extending human life span.
So during Bill Gates' Reddit "Ask Me Anything" session on Monday, the question that naturally arose was this: Does he want to artificially prolong his life?
"No," Gates replied. "I don't. Other people think about that but I wouldn't want to extend my last few years unless that is happening for most people."
This commitment to others permeated the Reddit AMA, which was scheduled to follow the release of the Gates Foundation's annual philanthropic letter.
The questions were rapid-fire.
How close are we to wiping out polio worldwide?
"Very close."
What's the biggest obstacle the developed world needs to overcome in order to help the developing world?
"Cynicism."
One question even pondered an alternate reality: What would he have done if he didn't go into computers?
"I considered law and math. My Dad was a lawyer. I think though I would have ended up in physics if I didn't end up in computer science."
Gates did admit to one guilty pleasure purchase: his private plane. "Owning a plane is a guilty pleasure. Warren Buffett called his the Indefensible. I do get to a lot of places for Foundation work I wouldn't be able to go to without it," said the tech legend.
Oh, well. It seems even if they don't have cryogenic capsules, billionaires occasionally get to be billionaires.
So during Bill Gates' Reddit "Ask Me Anything" session on Monday, the question that naturally arose was this: Does he want to artificially prolong his life?
"No," Gates replied. "I don't. Other people think about that but I wouldn't want to extend my last few years unless that is happening for most people."
This commitment to others permeated the Reddit AMA, which was scheduled to follow the release of the Gates Foundation's annual philanthropic letter.
The questions were rapid-fire.
How close are we to wiping out polio worldwide?
"Very close."
What's the biggest obstacle the developed world needs to overcome in order to help the developing world?
"Cynicism."
One question even pondered an alternate reality: What would he have done if he didn't go into computers?
"I considered law and math. My Dad was a lawyer. I think though I would have ended up in physics if I didn't end up in computer science."
Gates did admit to one guilty pleasure purchase: his private plane. "Owning a plane is a guilty pleasure. Warren Buffett called his the Indefensible. I do get to a lot of places for Foundation work I wouldn't be able to go to without it," said the tech legend.
Oh, well. It seems even if they don't have cryogenic capsules, billionaires occasionally get to be billionaires.