Bill Gates has donated about $50 million to help elect Vice President Kamala Harris , The New York Times reported Tuesday.

The donation was made privately to a nonprofit group called Future Forward, which is supporting Harris Democratic bid for president and was not meant to be made public, people familiar with Gates support told the Times. The mammoth figure would be a shift for the Microsoft co-founder, who has generally avoided throwing his financial might behind candidates on either side.

I support candidates who demonstrate a clear commitment to improving health care, reducing poverty and fighting climate change in the U.S. and around the world, he told The New York Times in a statement. I have a long history of working with leaders across the political spectrum, but this election is different, with unprecedented significance for Americans and the most vulnerable people around the world.

This election is different, he added when asked about his past history straddling both parties.