Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has announced a bold pledge: to donate most of his $200 billion fortune over the next 20 years—focusing largely on healthcare and education in Africa. Speaking at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Gates emphasized the importance of unlocking human potential as the key to driving prosperity across the continent, as per reports.
“The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa,” Gates told an audience of over 12,000 officials, youth leaders, and diplomats.
Gates stressed that good health and quality education are essential for development. His foundation will focus on primary healthcare, especially maternal and child health. “Healthy mothers and proper nutrition— especially in a child’s first four years—are vital for long-term success,” he said.
He also encouraged African innovators to integrate artificial intelligence into their healthcare systems, much like Rwanda, which uses AI-enabled ultrasounds to detect high-risk pregnancies. “Africa skipped traditional banking. Now you can leap ahead in healthcare by embracing AI,” Gates noted.
Gates’ announcement comes at a critical time when foreign aid to Africa has been reduced, particularly under the U.S.'s former "America First" policy. The cuts have impacted vital programs, including HIV/AIDS treatments.
A legacy beyond wealth
Gates recently declared that he plans to give away 99% of his wealth, aiming to close the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in about two decades.
“When I die, I don’t want people to say ‘he died rich,’” Gates wrote on his blog.
Despite giving away nearly all of his fortune, Bloomberg predicts Gates will still remain a billionaire due to investments and market growth.
Over the years, Bill Gates has been quite vocal about his children inheriting only a miniscule amount of his wealth. Talking about this, he once told told Raj Shamani in an interview, "Well, I think everybody gets to decide on that. In my case, my kids got a great upbringing, education, but less than 1% of the total wealth because I decided it wouldn’t be a favour to them. It’s not a dynasty. I’m not asking them to run Microsoft. I want to give them a chance to have their own earnings and success, be significant and not overshadowed by the incredible luck and good fortune I had."
He added, "Different families see that differently. I think the people who’ve made fortunes from technology are less dynastic and so they’ll even take their capital and give a lot of that away. You can have the view of giving away your capital or just giving away your earnings. And, of course, I love all philanthropy, but the tech sector is probably the most aggressive about giving most of it away."
Meet the Gates children
During their 27 years of marriage, Bill Gates and Melinda French had three children together-- Jennifer Gates Nassar, Rory Gates, and Phoebe Gates.
Jennifer Katharine Gates, born on April 26, 1996, is the eldest daughter of Bill and Melinda Gates. Unlike her tech-icon parents, Jennifer has built a distinct identity—as both a doctor and a professional equestrian. She holds degrees from Stanford, Columbia, and graduated from the Icahn School of Medicine in 2024. She has now begun her pediatric residency at Mt. Sinai. In 2021, she married fellow equestrian Nayel Nassar, just months after her parents’ divorce. The couple has two daughters—Leila, born in March 2023, and Mia, born in October 2024. Jennifer continues to balance motherhood, medicine, and equestrian sports.
Born on May 23, 1999, Rory John Gates is the only son of Bill and Melinda Gates. Named in honor of Melinda’s late friend John Neilson, Rory has quietly built an impressive academic profile. He graduated from the University of Chicago in 2022, earning a double major and a master’s degree in just four years. Currently, he’s pursuing a PhD at the Institute of World Politics while working as an analyst for the Afghanistan War Commission. Known for his privacy, Rory was described by Melinda as “compassionate, curious, intelligent, and feminist,” deeply engaged in conversations about gender equality and world issues.
And Phoebe Adele Gates, the youngest child of Bill and Melinda Gates, was born on September 14, 2002. Unlike her tech-savvy family, Phoebe has shown a strong interest in fashion. In 2022, she interned with British Vogue, calling it “the internship of a lifetime.” She also shares her father’s love for reading and is active on social media, especially TikTok, where she promotes women’s health and sustainable fashion. A 2024 Stanford graduate, Phoebe co-launched The Burnouts podcast in 2025 and co-founded Phia, a sustainable fashion platform set to launch soon. She’s currently dating Arthur Donald, Paul McCartney’s grandson.
What are your views on Bill Gates decision of giving away only 1% of his wealth to his children and the rest to charity? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
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