Billionaire Bill Gates Vows To Give Away 99% Of His Wealth By 2045: ‘I’m Confident The Money Will Save Tens Of Millions Of Lives’

Billionaire Bill Gates Vows To Give Away 99% Of His Wealth By 2045: ‘I’m Confident The Money Will Save Tens Of Millions Of Lives’

Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, told CBS Mornings he plans to give away nearly all of his fortune, with $200 billion going to the Gates Foundation over the next 20 years.

“By deciding to spend all this money in the next 20 years, we can get a lot more done,” he said. “I’m confident the money will save tens of millions of lives.”

The foundation, which focuses on fighting poverty, disease, and inequity, will now close in 2045 instead of after his death.

 

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In a letter released Tuesday (May 8), Gates said he was inspired by Andrew Carnegie’s quote, “The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.” He added, “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.”

When asked if he’ll miss his billions, Gates laughed,

“No, I won’t… but I will save a little bit to be able to buy hamburgers as much as I need.”

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