Bill Gates has officially pledged to donate 99% of his remaining fortune—currently valued at approximately $107 billion—to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This historic decision will fuel an additional $200 billion in philanthropic spending over the next 20 years, with the foundation now set to close its doors in 2045, earlier than previously planned.
This marks one of the largest charitable commitments ever recorded, surpassing legendary philanthropists like Rockefeller and Carnegie, and rivaled only by Warren Buffett’s own pledge. Since its founding in 2000, the Gates Foundation has already spent over $100 billion tackling global health crises, poverty, and educational challenges across the world.
Gates has clarified that only about 1% of his wealth will be left to his children. “I want them to forge their own paths,” he explained in past interviews, stressing the value of earning success rather than inheriting immense wealth.
Moving forward, the foundation will continue focusing on its core missions, including eradicating infectious diseases, improving maternal and child health, and fighting poverty—particularly in African nations. The legacy of Gates’ philanthropy is expected to reshape global development efforts for decades to come.
