In a move that marks a major turning point for global philanthropy, Bill Gates has announced that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will cease operations by 2045. The Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist revealed that he has instructed the foundation to spend all its resources within the next 20 years.
Gates, whose net worth is currently estimated at $107 billion by, has pledged to donate 99% of his wealth to the foundation. Over the next two decades, he expects the organization to spend more than $200 billion, an unprecedented commitment in modern philanthropy.
“This decision comes at a moment of reflection for me,” Gates wrote in a personal blog on Gates Notes, his official website. “This year marks the 25th anniversary of the foundation, my father’s 100th birth anniversary, Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, and my own 70th birthday in October.”
With this announcement, Gates’ contribution becomes the second-largest charitable gift in U.S. history when adjusted for inflation. Only Warren Buffett, with a net worth exceeding $160 billion, is expected to surpass Gates in lifetime philanthropic giving. Buffett is also a major contributor to the Gates Foundation through the Giving Pledge, a campaign the two billionaires co-founded.
This directive represents a major policy shift. Previously, the foundation was set to shut down 20 years after Gates’ death. Now, the 69-year-old—who remains in good health—has dramatically altered that timeline.
Founded in 2000, the Gates Foundation has already disbursed over $100 billion globally, targeting issues such as health, education, gender equality, and development. Much of its funding has gone toward supporting low-income nations in combating life-threatening diseases like malaria and tuberculosis. Organizations such as PATH and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, have been key partners in this mission.
The announcement comes amid shrinking global aid budgets. For example, the Trump administration cut billions from agencies like USAID, which had managed over $35 billion in congressional appropriations annually. In comparison, the Gates Foundation plans to spend about $9 billion each year until it closes in 2045.
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