Bill Gates Vows to Donate Nearly All His Wealth by 2045, Pledging $200 Billion to World’s Poorest

Bill Gates has announced he will give away the vast majority of his personal wealth—estimated at $108 billion—by 2045, pledging that around $200 billion will be spent to help the world’s poorest through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Microsoft co-founder, now 69, revealed the timeline on the foundation’s 25th anniversary. He also confirmed plans to shut the foundation down by December 31, 2045, once nearly all of his fortune has been disbursed.

“People will say many things when I die, but I’m determined that ‘he died rich’ won’t be one of them,” Gates wrote. “There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people.”

This move comes amid significant cuts to international aid from leading donor nations including the U.S., U.K., and France. Gates criticized these reductions and emphasized the critical need for continued government funding, particularly in efforts like polio eradication.

Since its inception in 2000, the Gates Foundation has already distributed $100 billion to initiatives like Gavi and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Its annual spending is set to reach $9 billion by 2026.

Despite praise for its global impact, the foundation has also faced scrutiny for its influence in public health and lack of formal accountability, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gates himself has been the target of misinformation and conspiracy theories.

He has spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump multiple times about the necessity of sustained investment in global health. Gates closed his announcement with a call to action for other billionaires to accelerate their giving for global impact.