Bill Gates vows to donate his $200 billion fortune by 2045, accelerate the Gates Foundation’s global impact, and close its doors—complete with exclusive quotes, video interview, and social media reactions.
Bill Gates Pledges to Give Away $200B Fortune: “I Won’t Die Rich
On May 8, 2025, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates announced an ambitious plan to donate virtually all of his remaining $200 billion fortune over the next two decades, with the goal of shuttering the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation by December 31, 2045. In a letter posted online, Gates invoked Andrew Carnegie’s famous 1889 maxim—“the man who dies thus rich dies disgraced”—to explain why he is accelerating his giving timeline and ensuring he “won’t be remembered as someone who died rich.” ReutersCBS News
Gates emphasized that this commitment will fund critical global health and development initiatives, from eradicating polio and malaria to cutting preventable child and maternal deaths. Annual spending by the Foundation is projected to rise to $10 billion, more than doubling its current outlay, to meet these urgent needs. Since its founding in 2000—with early contributions from Gates and Warren Buffett—the foundation has already dispensed over $100 billion toward global health, education, and poverty alleviation. ReutersReuters
In an exclusive “CBS Mornings” interview, Gates elaborated on why he chose to front-load his philanthropy. “By deciding to spend all this money in the next 20 years, we can get a lot more done,” he told co-host Tony Dokoupil, stressing that accelerated giving will save “tens of millions of lives.” Watch the full interview here:
Reacting on social platforms, Reuters tweeted:
“After announcing the decision to give away almost his entire personal wealth by 2045, Bill Gates told Reuters the world’s poorest would benefit from $200 billion in spending.”
(formerly Twitter)
On Instagram, the Gates Foundation shared a graphic post highlighting the pledge:
“Gates, who currently has a net worth of around $108 billion, said he aims to reduce that number by 99% as part of this massive giving initiative.”
Beyond philanthropy, Gates used the announcement to criticize Elon Musk for recent U.S. foreign aid cuts, warning that slashing 80% of USAID programs “threatens decades of progress” in global health. He argued that private giving can’t substitute for government support and called for renewed commitment to public-sector aid. Reuters
As he approaches his 70th birthday and marks the Gates Foundation’s 25th anniversary, Gates made clear that he still has “energy for strategy reviews, meetings with partners, and learning trips” for as long as he’s able. The accelerated giving plan, he says, ensures that his wealth will be put to work solving the world’s most urgent problems—long before he’s gone. people.com