Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has announced plans to donate nearly all of his $200 billion fortune and wind down the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation by 2045.
In a heartfelt post on his blog, Gates Notes, Gates said he intends to leave just one percent of his wealth for himself, applying a lifelong commitment to philanthropy. “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,” he wrote.
Gates explained that with the world facing urgent crises—from poverty to disease—he sees no justification in hoarding resources that could be used to improve lives globally.
The foundation, which has played a transformative role in global health, education, and poverty alleviation, will officially close on December 31, 2045.
