(New York) Bill Gates announced on Thursday the donation of the essentials of his remaining fortune to his foundation, which will spend “more than 200 billion dollars” by 2045, the co -founder of Microsoft clearly criticizing the American disengagement of international aid.
Posted at 12:53 p.m.
Thomas Urban
Agency France-Presse
“My fortune will decrease by 99 % by the next 20 years,” said the billionaire in an open letter, also revealing that his foundation would be dissolved at the end of 2045.
“People will say a lot about my death,” he continued, “but I am resolved that” he died rich “is not one of them. »»
The balance of his fortune is estimated at some $ 113 billion by the magazine Forbes.
“Many things can be done in 20 years,” said the co-founder of Microsoft in an open letter about his foundation that fights against poverty and disease. “I want to make sure the world goes ahead during this period. »»
Since its creation, in 2000, the Foundation has become a major player in the fight against poverty and illness in the world.
She spent about $ 100 billion over 25 years, its managing director Mark Suzman told AFP.
The announcement comes when the Trump government has drastically reduced the perimeter of the International Aid Agency USAID, whose budget increased to $ 44 billion in 2024.
In an interview with New York TimesBill Gates implicated Elon Musk, placed at the head of a commission for government efficiency (DOGE), at the origin of the dismantling of Usaid.
“The richest man in the world will be involved in the death of children among the poorest in the world,” said the entrepreneur, believing that the contraction of American aid would cause the rise in infant mortality.
-According to Bill Gates, the American sail reduction should lead to the death of several million of these children.
“Eradicate polio”
“It is important to show that we are going to be a vector of stability, continuity and predictability” during the next twenty years, underlined Mark Suzman, “at a time when many countries are making reductions in budgets, including France and the United States”.
“It has always been planned that this foundation is not perpetual,” said the manager about the deadline set at 2045.
Divorced by Bill Gates in 2021, Melinda French Gates left the foundation in 2024. So far called Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the non -profit organization has been renamed Gates Foundation.
The Foundation contributes in particular to finance the World Health Organization (WHO), the group of fight against polio (GPEI) and the Alliance of the Vaccine (GAVI).
His endowment was provided by donations from Melinda French Gates, Bill Gates and the entrepreneur Warren Buffett, boss of the Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate.
In line with the work carried out during his first quarter of a century, Bill Gates has set three priorities at the Foundation for the last twenty years of his existence.
It will thus focus on the fight against infant mortality, infectious diseases, mainly polio, dracunculose, measles and malaria, as well as on educational initiatives.
“We hope to eradicate polio and even possibly malaria,” said Mark Suzman, while “bringing HIV and tuberculosis under control. »»
Bill Gates paid tribute to Warren Buffett, which “remains the ultimate model of generosity”.
“I hope that other wealthy people will achieve how much they can improve the fate of the poorest in the world by increasing their gifts,” said Bill Gates.
“We hope that at the time of our dissolution, in 2045,” said Mark Suzman, “there will be an even more solid global philantropic ecosystem to tackle the problems of future generations. »»
