Neil deGrasse Tyson illustrates how poor you are compared to Bill Gates [VIDEO]

MADISON, Wis., May 23 (UPI) -- As the debate about wealth inequality in the United States heats up, a video of astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson quantifying the value of money for Bill Gates versus the average American has gone viral.

During a speech at the University of Wisconsin, the host of the acclaimed series "Cosmos" hypothesized that if the average person of average means were get a quarter richer, it would account for as large a percentage-gain in assets as $45,000 would for Gates.

The speech was delivered in 2011 when the Microsoft founder was worth about $50 billion. Today, the richest man in the world is worth $76 billion.