Bill Gates wants to spend his massive fortune while he’s still alive to see the results. He’s pledging $107 billion – a whopping 99% of his wealth – to tackle global issues like poverty and disease through accelerated giving. The foundation will ramp up to $9 billion annually by 2026, double its current rate. No more endless endowment model. Gates is flying solo now that Melinda’s gone, and he’s dead set on making his mark before the 2045 sunset. There’s more to this billion-dollar story.
Bill Gates is calling it quits – well, sort of.
The billionaire philanthropist has announced plans to permanently close his massive foundation by 2045, and he’s not messing around.
He’s pledging a whopping $107 billion – that’s 99% of his remaining fortune – to fuel an ambitious final chapter in global giving.
The foundation, which dropped Melinda French Gates’s name after her departure last year, isn’t just winding down quietly.
Far from a quiet farewell, the foundation’s exit marks a dramatic finale following Melinda French Gates’s departure.
It’s going out with a bang.
Plans call for spending more than $200 billion over the next two decades, effectively doubling its annual giving compared to previous years.
Talk about going big before going home.
This isn’t your typical foundation sunset story.
Gates, who’s now steering the ship solo as chair with his board of trustees, is accelerating the timeline originally meant to extend decades past his death.
Similar to living trusts, the foundation will remain fully operational and modifiable during Gates’ lifetime.
Why?
He wants to see the impact of his philanthropy while he’s still around.
Pretty straightforward thinking from a guy known for practical solutions.
The foundation’s focus remains locked on fighting global poverty, disease, and inequity – but now there’s a ticking clock.
Empowering women through gender equality initiatives remains a key priority carried over from Melinda’s influence.
Partners and grantees are scrambling to adjust to this new reality, though at least they’ve got a clear deadline to work with.
It’s like a philanthropic countdown timer, just with billions of dollars at stake.
The decision comes at an interesting time.
Warren Buffett has scaled back his planned contributions, and the foundation has weathered its share of public scrutiny, especially after Melinda’s exit to launch her own venture, Pivotal Ventures.
But Gates seems undeterred, doubling down on his belief that concentrated, time-bound giving packs more punch than endless endowments.
After giving away more than $100 billion in its first 25 years, the foundation is now racing toward its finish line.
The foundation plans to increase its annual payout to 9 billion dollars by 2026.
It’s a bold move that breaks from traditional philanthropic models – but then again, Gates has never been one to follow the usual playbook.
