The self-made billionaire has a reported net worth of US$75 billion, yet it seems that all the wealth in the world can't grant you immunity from the occasional gaffe.
Crossed Wires
Over the weekend, Gates managed to insult the people of Thailand, posting a picture of tangled wires, accusing Thai people of stealing power by "illegally tapping" into the grid.
Alongside the picture Gates said: "I've visited many cities filled with tangled wires such as those in this photo from Thailand, where people have illegally tapped into the grid on their own to get the power they need-at great personal risk."
His post was immediately met with responses from local residents and electricians, pointing out that the wires were not power cables, but were "low voltage/communication/Internet lines."
Many other users pointed out that Thailand actually has one of the best power grids of all the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.
Bolivia Flips Gates the Bird
Earlier this month Gates was ridiculed for his offer of chickens to South American country Bolivia. Bolivia was just one of 6 countries Gates was planning on donating 100,000 chickens to — which ruffled feathers in the Bolivian government, quite understandably given that Bolivia produces around 197 million chickens annually with the capacity to export 36 million. It is also one of the fastest growing economies in South America.
"How can he think we are living 500 years ago, in the middle of the jungle, not knowing how to produce?" Bolivian Development Minister Cesar Cocarico told journalists.
"Respectfully, he should stop talking about Bolivia."
Where's the 'Unlike' Button?
In June 2011, Bill Gates accidentally announced that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was engaged to his long-term girlfriend. In an interview about his philanthropic collaboration with Zuckerberg, Gates said: "I didn't say to Mark, 'Give me all your money!' He was predisposed to do it and he came to me seeking advice. His fiancée Priscilla thought about education and he gave money to Newark, New Jersey, and we did a co-grant, so that some of our people who had some expertise in that field could help him out." — Though Priscilla's status as fiancée was a shock to Zuckerberg's closest advisers, with Facebook officials stating that they knew nothing about the pending nuptials.
Bill Gates says Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is engaged. When asked for more info Gates just froze and had to be rebooted.(Jimmy Fallon)
— Graham Mack (@GrahamMack) June 15, 2011
Well I guess that's only fair given the amount of times Facebook has been the cause of "spoilers."
Money Can't Buy Manners
In 2013, Gates caused great insult to South Korea's then new female president, Park Geun-hye, when he greeted her with a one-handed hand shake, keeping the other in his pocket. The move is an act of disrespect and is considered to be very rude in South Korea, suggesting an attitude of superiority.
Just heard Bill Gates gave the President of South Korea the ol' "Down low… too slow!" Not cool, dude.
— Cory (@CoryUpdate) April 24, 2013
Internet Explorer
Though despite humanitarian faux-pas and cultural blunders, many on social media have a very different opinion of what the Microsoft founders biggest ever gaffe is…
— Giles Paley-Phillips (@eliistender10) June 27, 2016
You Know It's Time To Workout When Internet Explorer Starts Running Faster Than You.;)
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) June 26, 2016
