Bill Gates Has Revealed What He Would Do If He Only Had $2 A Day To Spend

Bill Gates Has Revealed What He Would Do If He Only Had $2 A Day To Spend

One of the smartest businessmen in the world is Big Bad Billy G. Or, as the rest of the world knows him, Bill Gates. So if he comes out with a bit of financial advice that applies to everyone (not just the rich elite), we better sit up and listen.

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In a recent blog post Gates addressed a hypothetical question about what he would do if his company – Microsoft – crumbled and was suddenly worth nothing. What then, would he do with an income of just $2 a day? Well, he said he would raise chickens.

Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images

Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images

He said: “There’s no single right answer, of course, and poverty looks different in different places. But through my work with the foundation, I’ve met many people in poor countries who raise chickens, and I have learned a lot about the ins and outs of owning these birds. It’s pretty clear to me that just about anyone who’s living in extreme poverty is better off if they have chickens.”

His reasons are that chickens are cheap and easy to take care of and a worthwhile investment. Some breeds can live off what they eat off the ground, he explains, although supplementing that is probably a good idea. As for shelter, hens need just a basic structure to protect their nests and eggs.

Another kicker is that you can eat both the chicken and their eggs, which are good for your health, and generate income at the same time.

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Gates also put some skin in the game. If you read the blog post, watch the video, and answer a question, Gates will donate—on your behalf—a flock of chickens to a poor family.

Tech Insider reporter Chris Weller added to Gates’ chicken business saying: “Through research and trips to West Africa, Gates has found that after a period of three months, a typical owner of eight to 10 chickens can yield a flock of 40 chicks. With a sale price of $5 per chicken, which Gates notes is typical in West Africa, an owner can earn over $1,000 a year. The extreme-poverty line, meanwhile, hovers around $700 a year.”

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For a man with a net worth at around $75 billion, if he thinks owning chickens is a good idea, it’s not business advice I’m going to argue with.

H/T: LadBible