Bill Gates to give most of his $200bn fortune to Africa

Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has announced that the majority of his $200 billion fortune will be spent on improving healthcare and education in Africa over the next two decades.

Speaking in Addis Ababa at the African Union (AU) headquarters, Gates, 69, emphasized the transformative potential of empowering African communities through health and education investments. “By unleashing human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity,” he told an audience of leaders, health experts, and innovators.

This initiative is part of Gates’ broader commitment to donate 99% of his wealth by 2045, the year when the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation plans to close its operations. He explained that most of this wealth would go toward supporting African countries facing critical challenges in public health and education.

“The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa,” Gates stated during his speech. “I recently made a commitment that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years.”

Investing in Mothers, Children, and AI

A central focus of the Gates Foundation’s new commitment is to address maternal and child health. Gates highlighted the importance of supporting mothers with proper nutrition before and during pregnancy, as well as ensuring children receive adequate nutrition in their early years.

“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.”

Gates also called on Africa’s young innovators to take the lead in using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to revolutionize healthcare. He pointed out how mobile phones had already transformed the banking industry in Africa and urged innovators to apply similar advancements in AI to medical services.

“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,” Gates said. He praised Rwanda’s use of AI-enabled ultrasound technology to detect high-risk pregnancies as a promising model for other countries.

Support Amid Global Uncertainty

Gates’ announcement comes at a critical time, as foreign aid to Africa faces significant cuts. The U.S. government, under President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy, has reduced support for various health programs, including HIV/AIDS treatment, sparking fears about the future of healthcare funding on the continent.

Mozambique’s former First Lady Graça Machel welcomed Gates’ commitment, calling it timely and transformative. “We are counting on Mr. Gates’ steadfast commitment to continue walking this path of transformation alongside us,” she said.

According to the Gates Foundation, its three strategic priorities for Africa include ending preventable deaths of mothers and babies, ensuring children grow up free from deadly diseases, and lifting millions of people out of poverty. The organization said it would focus particularly on strengthening primary healthcare systems.

Inspired by Philanthropy

Gates, who founded Microsoft with the late Paul Allen in 1975, has gradually distanced himself from the company over the years, stepping down as CEO in 2000 and resigning as chairman in 2014. In recent years, he has dedicated his time to global philanthropy, largely through the Gates Foundation.

In a recent blog post, he reflected on his legacy, writing: “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.”

His approach to giving was inspired by fellow billionaire and philanthropist Warren Buffett. However, critics have raised concerns over the Gates Foundation’s influence in global health policy and its use of charitable status to reduce tax obligations.

Despite such criticisms, Gates’ latest announcement signals one of the most ambitious philanthropic efforts aimed at reshaping the future of an entire continent