| Bill Gates has declared that he does not intend to die rich, as he plans to give away 99 per cent of his vast fortune over the next 20 years—an ambitious philanthropic commitment aimed at solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
In a deeply personal blog post marking the 25th anniversary of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Microsoft co-founder laid out his vision for the next two decades.
The foundation, which has already donated more than $100 billion since its inception in 2000, will now spend the bulk of Gates` remaining wealth before permanently closing its doors on 31 December 2045.
“I have spent a lot of time thinking about [Andrew Carnegie’s] quote lately,” Gates wrote, referring to the famed industrialist’s belief that “the man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.” Gates added: “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.”
At present, Gates’ net worth stands at approximately $108 billion.
He expects this figure to drop by 99 per cent by the foundation’s planned closure, marking a significant shift from the original plan to wind it down decades after his and his former wife Melinda’s deaths.
Gates explained that the change was motivated by the urgency of today’s global crises. “There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people,” he wrote.
A 20-Year Countdown to Impact
Looking ahead, the Gates Foundation will concentrate its efforts on three core areas: reducing maternal and infant mortality, eliminating infectious diseases, and combating global poverty.
1. Saving Mothers and Children
The foundation has long focused on health equity, and Gates cited the progress made between 1990 and 2019, when the global mortality rate for children under five fell from 12 million to 5 million annually. Moving forward, the foundation aims to reach even more mothers and children with improved nutrition, life-saving vaccines, and medical innovations.
2. Defeating Infectious Diseases
Gates has set a bold target: the eradication of measles and malaria, much like smallpox. Tuberculosis is also in the foundation’s sights. He stressed that making new medical technologies affordable and accessible will be key. “The key to maximising the impact of these innovations will be lowering their costs to make them affordable everywhere,” he noted.
3. Fighting Global Poverty
On poverty alleviation, Gates was candid in his criticism of the world’s richest nations. He expressed concern over the recent decisions by countries like the US, UK and France to cut their foreign aid budgets.
“It’s unclear whether the world`s richest countries will continue to stand up for its poorest people,” he said. “But the one thing we can guarantee is that, in all of our work, the Gates Foundation will support efforts to help people and countries pull themselves out of poverty.”
A Legacy Beyond Wealth
This year marks a confluence of milestones for Gates: the 25th anniversary of the foundation, Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, his own 70th birthday in October, and what would have been his late father’s 100th birthday. Gates acknowledged his father`s role in shaping the foundation and its ethos of giving.
While some billionaires are criticised for hoarding wealth or seeking influence, Gates’ renewed philanthropic blueprint is rooted in legacy and urgency. It is a striking departure from the usual billionaire narrative—one that seeks not to preserve fortune, but to distribute it for the greater good.
“The foundation will not exist to build a monument to Melinda or me,” Gates wrote. “It will exist for as long as it is needed, and not a moment longer.”
| 
