Case for Howard
Expanded healthcare benefits for hourly workers; Schultz Family Foundation
What voters may question: Aggressive union-busting at Starbucks; underpaid workers relative to his wealth
← Rankings
Head-to-head comparison
Howard Schultz vs Melinda French Gates
Who is richer—and who do voters respect more?
Melinda French Gates has the larger estimated fortune ($30.7B vs $3.6B), while the public-impact ranking measures something different: which billionaire voters believe has contributed more positively. Compare their records and cast your vote.
This matchup is based on public perception from anonymous votes. Pick the person you think had the better impact.
At a glance
Howard Schultz
Melinda French Gates
$3.6B
Estimated net worth
$30.7B
Starbucks
Main company
Microsoft (divorce settlement)
#11
Public rank
#8
25%
Matchup result
75%
Estimated net worth is shown in USD billions. Source estimates: Howard Schultz: Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, as of Sep 2, 2026, accessed Sep 2, 2026 (source ↗); Melinda French Gates: Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, as of Sep 2, 2026, accessed Sep 2, 2026 (source ↗). The public rank and matchup result update as votes change.
The short case
Case for Melinda
Decades of global health impact; focusing new work on women and families
What voters may question: Gates Foundation's top-down approach criticized for bypassing local expertise
Howard Schultz
Melinda French Gates
1,548
ELO
1,554
55%
Win rate
52%
—
7d trend
—
50%
Divisive ↓
50%
Melinda French Gates wins the crowd vote by 50 percentage points.