In the three months leading up to April 2020, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was referenced in roughly 1.2 million conspiracy theory posts worldwide, many tied to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a New York Times report citing Zignal Labs data.
A New York Times article on April 17, 2020, highlighted findings from Zignal Labs, positioning Bill Gates as a top target for conspiracy theorists—surpassing even 5G-COVID links by 33%. These mentions spiked between February and April 2020.
The surge traces back to a 2015 interview where Gates discussed his fears of a major global pandemic during his lifetime, noting how unprepared societies were—a prescient warning validated by events.
Theories claim Gates anticipated COVID-19 and sought to profit, pointing to a vaccine patent by the UK-based Pirbright Institute, which receives Gates Foundation funding. In reality, the patent targets a different coronavirus, not SARS-CoV-2.
Gates also drew fire for criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump's handling of the outbreak and his decision to halt WHO funding.
Far-right commentators, conspiracy proponents, and anti-vaccine advocates have long scrutinized Gates. Since 2000, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has invested billions in global vaccination efforts—laudable to many, but criticized in works like journalist Lionel Astruc's 2019 book, The Art of False Generosity: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
