Billions in Change: the Billionaire Who Gives Away 99% of His Wealth

How do you change the world? Is foreign aid the most effective tool, or should charities funded by millions of small donors lead the way?

A new organization called Billions in Change is trying a new strategy: creating inventions to solve the most fundamental problems that people face around the world.

Founded and funded by multi-billionaire Manoj Bhargava, the organization has a unique opportunity to directly address the problems of global poverty.

Bhargava, the founder of 5-Hour Energy, pledged 99 percent of his wealth to help the less fortunate. So Billions in Change doesn’t accept donations.

Billions in Change is a movement to save the world by creating and implementing solutions to the most basic global problems – water, energy and health. Doing so will raise billions of people out of poverty and improve the lives of everyone – rich and poor.

“We’re neither nonprofit or for-profit. We’re zero profit,” Bhargava told Opportunity Lives. “We’re run like a for-profit, but we don’t make any money.”

Instead of just giving his money away, Bhargava wants to make a sustainable difference by giving people the ability to make a living.

Billions in Change is all about doing – creating and implementing solutions that meet basic needs, and thereby creating a positive impact on billions of people around the world

“Our aim is to enable people to make their own livelihoods, and to empower people — regardless of where they live or how much money they have—to achieve maximum wellbeing,” says the Billions in Change website.

Billions in Change mostly employs engineers. The engineers are tasked with developing cheap, easy-to-use products that can revolutionize access to reliable electricity, clean water and healthcare for people around the world.

These three goals are fundamental to giving people the ability to make a living and begin a journey out of poverty.

Free Electricity

One of the inventions to so far come out of the Billions in Change engineering works is the Free Electric machine. The Machine gives people the power to generate electricity themselves – pollution free. The machine is small, light and simple.

Here’s how it works: A person pedals a hybrid bicycle. The bicycle wheel drives a flywheel, which turns a generator, which charges a battery. Pedaling for one hour yields electricity for 24 hours with no utility bill, and no exhaust, no waste.

The Rain Maker

Another creation is a machine called Rain Maker. It mimics nature, turning seawater or polluted water into fresh water suitable for drinking and agriculture. Rain Maker makes more than just a little water.

One machine the size of small car can make a thousand gallons per hour. Unlike other desalination systems, Rain Maker recycles its heat energy making it incredibly clean and efficient.

Find out more at Billions in Change