Bill Gates pledged on Thursday to give away nearly all of his personal wealth over the next two decades. He said about $200 billion would go to the world's poorest through his foundation, at a time when governments around the world are cutting international aid.
The 69-year-old philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder said he is accelerating plans to divide his wealth and close the Gates Foundation on December 31, 2045.
"People will say many things about me when I die, but I am determined that 'died rich' will not be one of them," Gates wrote in a post on his website.
"There are many urgent problems that need to be solved to maintain resources that can help people," he stressed.
In an indirect criticism of US President Donald Trump for cuts to foreign aid from the United States - the world's largest donor - Gates said he wants to help prevent the deaths of infants, children and mothers from preventable causes, fight diseases such as polio, malaria and measles, and reduce poverty.
"It is unclear whether the world's richest countries will continue to protect the poorest," he added, citing aid cuts also from the United Kingdom and France.
Gates stressed that, despite the foundation's large budget, progress would not be possible without the support of governments.
He praised the response of some African countries to aid cuts, which have reallocated their budgets, but stressed that, for example, polio cannot be eradicated without US funding.
Gates made the announcement on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the foundation, which he created in 2000 with his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, and was later joined by investor Warren Buffett.
"I've come a long way since I was a kid starting a software company with my high school friend," he said.
Since its creation, the foundation has donated $100 billion, helping to save millions of lives and supporting initiatives such as the Gavi vaccine group and the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
According to Gates, the foundation will close after spending about 99% of his personal wealth. Originally, the founders had envisioned the foundation continuing for several decades after their deaths.
Gates, whose fortune is estimated at around $108 billion, expects the foundation to spend around $200 billion by 2045, with the final figure depending on markets and inflation.
The foundation is already one of the largest players in the field of global health, with an annual budget expected to reach $9 billion by 2026.
He has faced criticism for excessive power and influence in this area, without sufficient accountability – including at the World Health Organization.
Gates has also been the subject of conspiracy theories, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has had several conversations with President Trump in recent months regarding the importance of continued investment in global health.
"I hope other wealthy people will also consider how much they could accelerate progress for the world's poorest if they increased the pace and scale of their giving, because it is an incredibly powerful way to give back to society," Gates wrote. /REL (A2 Televizion)
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