Bill Gates has unveiled a bold plan to donate nearly all of his $200 billion fortune within the next 20 years, aiming to close the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation by the end of 2045. The move significantly accelerates the foundation’s original timeline, which envisioned it continuing operations long after his death. Gates explained that this shift comes from a deep desire to see his wealth make tangible change during his lifetime.
The foundation, launched in 2000, has already funneled over $100 billion into global health, education, and poverty-related causes. It’s credited with helping cut childhood deaths in half, from 10 million to 5 million per year. With this renewed commitment, Gates plans for the foundation to spend an estimated $200 billion over the next two decades, focusing on urgent global challenges with intensified momentum.
Gates emphasized that he doesn’t want to be remembered as someone who died rich. He believes philanthropy should be driven by action and measurable outcomes rather than perpetual existence. His decision reflects a growing trend among modern philanthropists: winding down charitable foundations to maximize impact rather than preserve them indefinitely.
This strategic sunset approach is meant to concentrate resources in a way that addresses today’s most pressing issues, from vaccine distribution to equitable education. Gates hopes his decision inspires other billionaires to make similar commitments, redirecting vast private fortunes into immediate solutions for humanity’s greatest problems.
#BillGates #Philanthropy #GatesFoundation #Charity #WealthDistribution #FuturePlanning #GlobalHealth