Bill Gates Pledges to Donate Majority of $200 Billion Fortune to Transform Health and Education in Africa.
Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has announced that the vast majority of his staggering $200 billion fortune will be spent over the next two decades to improve health and education across Africa. In a powerful speech delivered from the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the 69-year-old made it clear: his mission is to help unlock Africa’s full potential through meaningful, long-term investment in human capital.
“By unleashing human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity,” Gates told the audience.
A longtime supporter of global health initiatives, Gates recently pledged to give away 99% of his wealth by 2045 — the same year his philanthropic foundation plans to complete its operations. This latest announcement reflects that commitment, with Africa as the central focus.
“I recently made a commitment that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years. The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa,” Gates affirmed.
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The announcement comes at a critical time. With foreign aid to Africa, including U.S. funding for HIV/AIDS programmes, facing significant cuts under the "America First" policy of former President Donald Trump, Gates' renewed dedication to the continent has been warmly welcomed. Mozambique's former First Lady, Graça Machel, praised the move, calling it a light in a difficult moment: “We are counting on Mr Gates' steadfast commitment to continue walking this path of transformation alongside us.”
Gates emphasized that his foundation would focus heavily on strengthening primary healthcare systems — especially maternal and child health. “What we've learned is that helping the mother be healthy and have great nutrition before she gets pregnant, while she is pregnant, delivers the strongest results,” he explained. “Ensuring the child receives good nutrition in their first four years as well makes all the difference.”
In addition to health, Gates encouraged Africa’s vibrant community of young innovators to take advantage of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to reimagine the future of healthcare. He pointed to the continent’s leap over traditional banking systems through mobile phones as a model of transformative innovation.
“Africa largely skipped traditional banking and now you have a chance, as you build your next generation healthcare systems, to think about how AI is built into that,” he said. Rwanda, he noted, is already leveraging AI to improve maternal health by using ultrasound technology to detect high-risk pregnancies.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has set three primary goals for its African investments: ending preventable deaths of mothers and babies, eradicating deadly infectious diseases, and lifting millions out of poverty. With targeted and sustained funding, these efforts are expected to dramatically reshape outcomes for future generations.
“At the end of 20 years, the foundation will sunset its operations,” the foundation confirmed in a statement.
Gates has often said he does not want to die rich. In a recent blog post, he wrote: “People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that 'he died rich' will not be one of them.”
Alongside fellow billionaire Warren Buffett and other philanthropic leaders, Gates has long been a vocal advocate for giving back. While some critics have questioned the influence of his foundation, few billionaires have matched his scale of commitment and follow-through.
Despite donating 99% of his fortune, Gates is still expected to remain a billionaire — a testament to the sheer scale of his wealth. Yet unlike many of his peers, he continues to demonstrate that his resources are a tool for global good, not just personal legacy.
In a world often skeptical of the ultra-wealthy, Bill Gates stands out as one of the rare individuals who puts his money where his mouth is. If even a fraction of his $200 billion delivers on its promise — preventing disease, saving lives, and empowering a new generation — the impact will be felt for centuries to come.
