Bill Gates' $200 Billion Pledge Amid Global Challenges

When Bill and Melinda French Gates created the Gates Foundation in 2000, they had planned for the organization to continue its work, using their remaining fortune, for several decades after they died. But now, the billionaire Microsoft founder says he doesn’t want to wait that long to give away most of his wealth.

Gates announced on Thursday that he now plans to distribute “virtually all” of his wealth — around $200 billion, he estimates — within the next 20 years, before shuttering the foundation on December 31, 2045.

The announcement comes as President Donald Trump’s administration is working to slash funding for health, foreign aid and other public assistance programs — the types of causes the Gates Foundation supports — raising concerns about stalled progress on research and other crucial projects.

Through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates plans to allocate approximately $200 billion over the next two decades to address pressing global issues, including poverty, disease, and education .

A Vision Rooted in Responsibility

Gates' commitment to giving is not new. Since its inception in 2000, the Gates Foundation has already disbursed over $100 billion, supporting initiatives like vaccine distribution through Gavi and combating diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria via the Global Fund . However, the decision to accelerate the foundation's spending and conclude its operations by 2045 underscores a sense of urgency in addressing global inequities.

"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," Gates stated, emphasizing his desire to utilize his resources for the greater good .

Confronting Global Aid Reductions

Gates' announcement comes at a time when international aid budgets are facing significant cuts. Notably, he criticized Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for slashing funding to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which has historically provided crucial support for health and humanitarian programs worldwide .

Gates highlighted the dire consequences of these reductions, pointing to halted HIV prevention programs in Mozambique and the expiration of essential medical supplies. He accused Musk of acting out of ignorance, citing a misinterpretation that led to the cessation of aid to Gaza Province in Mozambique, mistakenly associated with the Gaza Strip .

A Call to Action

Gates’ current net worth is $108 billion; Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index ranks him as the fifth wealthiest person in the world. Now, he said his net worth will fall 99% by 2045. The $200 billion he expects to give away through the foundation over the next 20 years will come from its existing $77 billion endowment and his personal wealth, including any earnings from ongoing business investments such as TerraPower, the nuclear power company he founded,

French Gates exited the Gates Foundation last year following the couple’s high-profile divorce in 2021. She said in 2022 that she would not give away the bulk of her wealth through the Gates Foundation.

The announcement comes weeks after Microsoft, now worth more than $3 trillion, marked 50 years since it was founded by Gates. “It feels right that I celebrate the milestone by committing to give away the resources I earned through the company,” he wrote.

Despite the challenges, Gates remains optimistic about the impact of strategic philanthropy. The foundation's focus areas for the next two decades include preventing maternal and child deaths, eradicating infectious diseases, and alleviating poverty .

Gates also urges fellow billionaires to consider the profound impact of accelerated giving. "I hope other wealthy people consider how much they can accelerate progress for the world’s poorest if they increased the pace and scale of their giving," he wrote .

Bill Gates' pledge to donate the majority of his wealth by 2045 is more than a philanthropic gesture; it's a clarion call for collective responsibility in addressing global challenges. As governments reevaluate their aid commitments, the role of private philanthropy becomes increasingly vital. Gates' actions serve as a powerful reminder that with great wealth comes the opportunity—and perhaps the obligation—to effect meaningful change.