“I don’t want to die rich.” 💬 That’s Bill Gates’s clear message as he pledges to donate nearly his entire fortune—99%—over the next two decades. On the 25th anniversary of the Gates Foundation, he announced the organization will allocate over $200 billion toward global health and poverty reduction, then close by December 31, 2045 .

👉 Why the urgency?

He says the pace of global progress—from halving child mortality to breakthroughs in vaccines—creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity. By accelerating spending, he hopes to “put the world on a path to ending preventable deaths and lifting millions out of poverty”.

🎯 Impact track record so far

• Since 2000, the foundation’s initiatives (like Gavi and the Global Fund) have helped save an estimated 82 million lives from diseases such as polio, AIDS, TB, and malaria.

• Over its first 25 years, it donated $100 billion; now plans to match that over the next 20 years, totaling $200 billion.

🌍 Where the money will go

According to recent statements, a large share is earmarked for Africa, with a focus on:

1. Strengthening primary healthcare systems

2. Expanding quality education

3. Fueling health innovation (e.g., AI-driven diagnostics and vaccines).

⚠️ Warning on aid cuts

Gates strongly criticized Elon Musk and the Trump-era budget cuts to USAID, saying they “threaten millions of probably irreversible deaths among the world’s poorest children.” He insists that government aid must be restored—philanthropy alone won’t suffice.