'I’ll Give Away Almost All Of My Fortune' — Bill Gates Pledges $200 Billion For Africa’s Development

Bill Gates, the man behind Microsoft and one of the world’s richest people, has pledged to direct his resources toward Africa. In an address at the African Union in Addis Ababa on Monday, the 69-year-old announced that almost all of his staggering $200 billion fortune will be used to boost health and development across Africa over the next 20 years — and it’s not going to his kids.

“I recently made a commitment that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years,” Gates told the packed Nelson Mandela Hall, which included over 12,000 government officials, diplomats, and youth leaders tuning in from around the world. “The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa.”

By 2045, Gates plans to have handed over 99% of his wealth. His foundation — the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation — will then wrap up, leaving behind a legacy of better health systems, fewer child deaths, and a brighter economic future for millions.

Gates, who has been investing in Africa for decades, says this is not just charity. “By unleashing human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity,” he said.

But he wasn’t alone in calling for bold action. African leaders like Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of the World Trade Organization and United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J Mohammed also spoke about the need for homegrown solutions and enduring partnerships. Renowned women and children’s advocate Graça Machel called this “a moment of crisis” — and praised Gates’ unwavering commitment to Africa.

So what’s Gates’ goal? Primary healthcare. Better nutrition. Vaccines. And a whole lot of partnership with African governments. He’s already seen how countries like Rwanda and Ethiopia are leading the way — from using data to slash child mortality rates to deploying AI-powered ultrasounds that spot risky pregnancies early on.

“Investing in primary healthcare has the greatest impact on health and wellbeing,” Gates said. “Ensuring the child receives good nutrition in their first four years makes all the difference.”

Gates is also championing artificial intelligence as Africa’s secret weapon, just like mobile phones transformed banking across the continent. “Africa largely skipped traditional banking,” he said. “Now you have a chance, as you build your next generation healthcare systems, to think about how AI is built into that.”

On this trip, Gates is meeting with leaders in Ethiopia and Nigeria, seeing first-hand how local initiatives are tackling health crises even as foreign aid dollars dry up. In Nigeria, he’ll also be talking AI and meeting the next wave of local innovators shaping the continent’s future.

In a blog post reflecting on his journey, Gates wrote, “People will say many things about me when I die, but I want to make sure ‘he died rich’ is not one of them.”

Even after giving away almost everything, Bill Gates will still likely be a billionaire.