Bill Gates recently announced that he’s on track to give away nearly all his personal wealth by 2045, aiming to deliver about $200-billion through the Gates Foundation to help the world’s poorest. Speaking on the foundation’s 25th anniversary, Gates says he’s committed to tackling urgent global problems, ending preventable deaths among children and mothers, and combating diseases like polio, malaria, and measles.
The billionaire philanthropist stresses that even though the foundation has deep resources, support from governments is essential, and he criticized the current U.S. administration for cutting aid, saying that these reductions have hurt efforts to improve health around the world. He points to all the foundation has been able to do since 2000, including initiatives to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Gates wants his legacy to reflect generosity. “People will say a lot of things about me when I die,” he says, “But I am determined that ‘he died rich’ will not be one of them.”
The foundation’s budget is projected to reach $9-billion annually by 2026 and it plans to close after spending around 99% of his personal fortune. While the organization has faced criticism over its influence and accountability, Gates remains focused on helping the world’s poorest. He encourages other wealthy people to do more, saying their contributions can have a powerful impact on global progress.
Source: TODAY