Bill Gates Pledges to Donate Nearly Entire Fortune by 2045

Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has revealed a new plan to donate over $200 billion through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation before officially closing the organization by 2045.

The shift marks a major acceleration in the foundation’s giving timeline. It was initially intended to close 20 years after Gates' death, but the updated plan brings that deadline forward—regardless of when he dies.

“I’ll be remembered for many things, but not as someone who died rich,” Gates wrote in a blog post, where he shared a chart forecasting a 99% drop in his net worth over the next two decades.

Bigger goals, faster giving

Founded in 2000, the Gates Foundation currently holds over $71 billion in assets and operates across Africa, Asia, the US, Europe, and the Middle East. It has supported major health campaigns such as the fight against polio and rotavirus, which has helped reduce child deaths from diarrhea by 75%.

Now, the foundation will double the pace of its efforts, using new tools like artificial intelligence to improve access to quality healthcare globally.

Gates said AI could revolutionize public health, offering poor communities virtual healthcare that may even surpass what’s available in wealthier countries.

Not meant to last forever

Unlike many legacy foundations, Gates says this one will not exist indefinitely. Inspired by 19th-century philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, he prefers to spend big now, while new technologies can still make a major impact.

“It’s not about building a foundation that lasts forever,” Gates told The New York Times. “It’s about using the money where it can do the most good—today.”

He also emphasized the role of government in lifting people out of poverty and expressed concern over recent cuts to foreign aid budgets in the US, UK, France, and elsewhere.

Gates takes a swipe at Musk

In his latest interviews, Gates didn’t hold back from criticizing fellow billionaire Elon Musk. He blamed Musk for slashing the US foreign aid budget during Donald Trump’s presidency, calling the move "stunning" and more extreme than expected.

He also mocked Musk’s confusion between Gaza in Mozambique and Gaza in the Middle East, referencing it as a sign of careless policymaking.

“The world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a good look,” Gates reportedly told the Financial Times.

What's next for Gates?

Beyond the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates plans to continue funding projects in clean energy, Alzheimer’s research, and education.

At 69 years old and still ranking in the top 15 richest people globally, Gates is proving that massive wealth doesn’t have to stick around forever.

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