Bill Gates Pledges to Donate 99% of His Wealth by 2045
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has announced plans to give away 99% of his wealth within the next 20 years, accelerating his philanthropic efforts through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
In a recent blog post, Gates, 69, emphasized his commitment to global change, stating, “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 foundation, which has already contributed $100 billion to health and development initiatives, is projected to spend an additional $200 billion by 2045—depending on market performance and inflation.
Gates also referenced Andrew Carnegie’s 1889 essay, The Gospel of Wealth, which advocates for the wealthy to return their fortunes to society. He quoted Carnegie’s famous line: “The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.”
The billionaire philanthropist confirmed the foundation will wind down operations by 2045, marking a definitive end to one of the largest charitable ventures in history.
#1Bill Gates Accelerates Giving, Plans to Donate 99% of Wealth by 2045
Bill Gates has announced a significant shift in his philanthropic strategy, pledging to give away 99% of his wealth by 2045—an acceleration from earlier plans that envisioned the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation operating for decades beyond his lifetime.
In an interview with Newshour, Gates explained the change in approach: “It’s really about the urgency. We can spend a lot more if we’re not trying to be perpetual, and I know that the spending will be in line with my values.” He noted that future billionaires will be better positioned to address the world’s challenges two decades from now.
Despite the massive donation, Gates could still remain a billionaire. According to Bloomberg, his current net worth stands at $108 billion, making him the fifth-richest person in the world. In his blog post, he included a hand-drawn timeline with his fortune trending toward near-zero by 2045, along with plans to allocate $200 billion from the foundation's endowment.
Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, building the company into a tech giant. He stepped down as CEO in 2000 and left his role as chairman in 2014, focusing instead on philanthropy. Inspired by investor Warren Buffett and other philanthropists, Gates has become one of the world’s most prominent donors.
However, his foundation has faced criticism. Detractors argue that Gates leverages its charitable status for tax advantages and holds disproportionate influence over global health initiatives.
In his blog, Gates outlined three primary goals for his foundation:
Eradicating preventable maternal and child deaths
Eliminating infectious diseases like malaria and measles
Lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty
He also voiced concern over shrinking foreign aid budgets, stating: “It’s unclear whether the world’s richest countries will continue to stand up for its poorest people.” He emphasized that, regardless of government actions, “the Gates Foundation will support efforts to help people and countries pull themselves out of poverty.”
#2Bill Gates Criticizes Elon Musk Over Aid Cuts Impacting Children's Lives
In a candid interview with Newshour, Bill Gates sharply criticized fellow tech billionaire Elon Musk over drastic cuts to U.S. foreign aid, reportedly linked to the Department of Government Efficiency—nicknamed "Doge." Gates accused Musk of making decisions that would lead to devastating consequences.
"These cuts will kill not just children, but millions of children," Gates stated. "You wouldn’t have expected the world’s richest person to do it."
Gates pointed specifically to canceled grants supporting a hospital in Gaza Province, Mozambique. The cuts stemmed from a false claim made by Donald Trump, who alleged that the hospital was supplying condoms “for Hamas” in the Gaza Strip—a claim Musk later admitted was inaccurate. Despite the correction, the funding cuts were not reversed.
"I'm disappointed that [Musk] made abrupt cuts and characterized them in a way that was unfair," Gates said. "Including saying money was being spent in Gaza when, in fact, it was money to prevent mothers from infecting their babies with HIV."
He added solemnly, “I mean, this is serious stuff.”
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