The Final Gift: Bill Gates Vows to Give Away 99% of His Fortune Before Foundation’s Farewell

In a move that cements his legacy not as a titan of technology but as one of history’s most ambitious givers, Bill Gates has declared that he will part with nearly all of his $200 billion fortune—leaving behind not an empire of wealth, but one of impact.

The man who helped usher in the digital age is now writing his final philanthropic chapter. By December 31, 2045, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the colossal charitable engine he co-founded in 2000, will permanently close its doors. And by that same date, Gates says, 99% of his wealth will be gone—channelled into solving humanity’s greatest challenges.

“Let it never be said that I died rich,” Gates wrote in a deeply personal message on his blog, Gates Notes, echoing the words of a man ready to be remembered for more than just what he built, but what he gave away.

There was a time when the Foundation’s sunset was meant to follow the deaths of both Gates and his former wife, Melinda. But Gates, guided by urgency and conviction, has changed course. The future won’t wait, he believes—and neither will he.

“The world has too many pressing problems for me to sit on resources that could make a difference now,” he said. “So I’ve decided to return my wealth to society much faster than originally planned.”

The foundation’s achievements over its 25-year journey already read like a modern legend: spearheading the fight against polio, building vaccine alliances that have saved tens of millions of lives, and funding breakthroughs in education and global health. Gates proudly recalled the role they played in creating Gavi and the Global Fund, saying, “Together, they’ve saved over 80 million lives.”

One especially striking triumph was the development of a rotavirus vaccine that helped slash child deaths from diarrhea by 75%—a quiet revolution in public health that never made headlines but changed millions of futures.

But for all its impact, the Gates Foundation has not been without criticism. Detractors argue that Gates holds too much influence over global health agendas. Unapologetic, Gates responded simply: “As a private citizen, I have the right to decide how my earnings are used. And this is how I choose.”

A graphic included in his blog shows the stark reality: by 2045, just one per cent of his current fortune—about $1.6 billion—will remain. According to Daily Mail, that small fraction may eventually go to his three adult children: Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe.

It’s a rare sight in a world where billionaires are often remembered for their accumulation, not their abdication of power. But Gates is taking a different route. Not toward legacy, but toward finality. Toward an intentional ending.

“This is the right balance,” he said in a recent interview. “Twenty years to give as much as possible, and enough time for the world to prepare for a future without the Foundation’s support.”

What remains is a countdown—not to an ending, but to a beginning shaped by billions of dollars turned into vaccines, clean water, education, and second chances.

In the twilight of his giving, Bill Gates isn’t just closing a chapter. He’s writing a final act few would dare: to disappear from the pages of wealth and live on instead in the margins of hope.

Written By Queen Diana