Microsoft co-founder plans to distribute nearly $200 billion to global health, education, and poverty initiatives as preventable deaths rise.
In a landmark move, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has announced that he plans to give away nearly all of his wealth and shut down the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation within the next two decades.
The decision marks one of the most ambitious acts of personal philanthropy in modern history—amounting to an estimated $200 billion in giving.
Gates, who co-founded Microsoft and currently ranks among the world’s richest individuals, said the goal is to accelerate solutions in global health, education, and poverty reduction, especially as government funding for global health continues to shrink.
“I don’t want to die rich,” Gates said, stressing that urgent needs like vaccine distribution and maternal health programs require action now.
The foundation has already awarded more than $100 billion since its creation, including a historic $43 billion donation from Warren Buffett.
Gates added that with preventable child deaths projected to rise in 2025, now is the time to “double down on impact.”
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, founded in 2000, has become a global force in addressing infectious diseases, expanding education access, and improving sanitation and maternal care.
The announcement signals a major transition for one of the world’s most influential philanthropic institutions.
