Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has announced plans to distribute 99% of his estimated $200 billion fortune over the next two decades, with the aim of closing the Gates Foundation by December 31, 2045.
Gates revealed that the $200 billion will come from the foundation’s existing $77 billion endowment and his personal wealth, including returns from business ventures such as TerraPower, a nuclear power company he founded.
“There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people,” Gates wrote in a blog post on Thursday.
“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.”
Philanthropic Shift Amid Policy Changes
The announcement comes amid US President Trump’s policy shifts, which include cutting funding for health and foreign aid — areas the Gates Foundation heavily supports.
This has raised concerns about the future of crucial projects, prompting Gates to accelerate his giving timeline.
Gates, along with his ex-wife French Gates and Warren Buffett, co-launched the Giving Pledge in 2010 to encourage the ultra-wealthy to donate the majority of their wealth during their lifetimes or through their wills. Today, the initiative has over 240 signatories.
Changing Vision for the Gates Foundation
The decision to dissolve the foundation by 2045 marks a significant departure from Gates’ original plan to fund its work for decades after his death. Since its founding in 2000, the Gates Foundation has given away over $100 billion to causes ranging from global health to education and poverty alleviation.
French Gates, who exited the foundation following the couple’s high-profile divorce in 2021, announced last year that she would not contribute the bulk of her wealth through the foundation.
Microsoft’s Milestone and Personal Reflection
Gates’ announcement coincides with Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, a milestone he marked by committing to distribute the wealth he earned from the tech giant, now valued at over $3 trillion.
“It feels right to celebrate this milestone by giving away the resources I earned through the company,” he wrote.
While Gates’ decision is a bold philanthropic move, it also raises questions about the future of one of the world’s largest charities and the impact of winding down its operations over the next 20 years.
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