Bill Gates to Spend Most of His Fortune on Health and Education in Africa by 2045

What would you do with $200 billion? Bill Gates plans to give (almost) all of it away.

Fez – In a move that’s bold, ambitious, and deeply personal, Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder and one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet, has reaffirmed his commitment to channel the majority of his wealth into transforming health and education systems across Africa.

Over the next 20 years, Gates plans to pour billions into initiatives aimed at empowering the continent’s future through better healthcare and smarter access to education.

‘Unlocking human potential’

Gates isn’t just thinking big, he’s thinking long-term. Speaking from the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he emphasized the core philosophy behind this pledge: “Unlocking human potential through health and education can put every African country on a path to prosperity.”

This isn’t just talk. Last month, Gates announced he will donate 99% of his wealth, expected to reach $200 billion by 2045, before the Gates Foundation winds down its operations.

That’s not a typo. Ninety-nine percent. His intention? To make sure the impact outlives the fortune.

The timing couldn’t be more critical. With U.S. government aid to Africa facing cuts under the “America First” policies. Impacting vital programs like HIV/AIDS care, Gates’ renewed focus on Africa’s most pressing needs feels both urgent and strategic.

And he’s thinking innovatively, urging young African creators and entrepreneurs to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize healthcare delivery.

“Just like mobile phones transformed banking in Africa,” Gates said, “you now have a once-in-a-generation chance to use AI to reimagine the future of healthcare.”

His foundation has already identified three key focus areas: preventing avoidable deaths among mothers and children, ensuring the next generation grows up free of deadly infectious diseases, and lifting millions out of poverty.

A question of legacy

The Gates Foundation won’t last forever, by design. “In 20 years,” he wrote in a blog post, “the sun will set on the Foundation.”

And when it does, he doesn’t want to be remembered as someone who “died rich.”

Of course, not everyone is clapping. Critics argue that Gates’ philanthropic empire allows him to avoid taxes and exert disproportionate influence over global health policy.

But love him or question him, Gates is reshaping the way billionaires think about legacy.

Inspired by the legendary Warren Buffett and other philanthropic pioneers, Gates is betting big on Africa, where the stakes are high, but the potential is higher.

This isn’t just a donation. It’s a bet on the future, and it’s one Gates seems determined to win.