Bill Gates to Donate Nearly All His Wealth and Close Foundation by 2045
Bill Gates announced on Thursday that he plans to give away nearly all of his $108 billion fortune within the next two decades, and is aiming to shut down the Gates Foundation by December 31, 2045. Marking its 25th anniversary, the foundation said it will spend around $200 billion by then—roughly double what it has already donated since its launch in 2000. Gates, who co-founded the charity with Melinda French Gates, said, “People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that ‘he died rich’ will not be one of them.”
The move comes as global health and aid budgets shrink, especially following cuts under Donald Trump’s administration. Gates didn’t hold back on his frustration with these setbacks, warning that progress won’t continue without government support. “It’s unclear whether the world’s richest countries will continue to stand up for its poorest people,” he wrote, adding that setbacks in vaccination programs and increased debt in poor countries demand urgent action.
The foundation’s focus over the next 20 years will include preventing maternal and infant deaths, eliminating infectious diseases like malaria and polio, and reducing extreme poverty. Despite facing criticism for its influence and Gates himself being a target of conspiracy theories, he remains optimistic. Highlighting advances in AI and health innovation, Gates said now is the time “to go all in” to tackle the world’s toughest challenges and inspire other billionaires to follow suit.
