• Bill Gates commits to donate $200 billion via his foundation by 2045.
• The money will target urgent issues like health care and poverty alleviation.
• Gates criticizes cuts to international aid by several governments, including the US.
• The foundation plans to close after 99% of his wealth has been given away.
• Gates hopes to inspire other wealthy individuals to increase their philanthropic efforts.

Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, has pledged to donate nearly his entire fortune by 2045, with expectations to distribute around $200 billion through his foundation aimed at aiding the world's poorest. This announcement was made amid widespread cuts to international aid by various governments, particularly the United States, during a critical time for global public health initiatives, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

Gates expressed the urgency of his mission, stating, "There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people," indicating his intent not to be remembered as someone who hoarded wealth. He critiques the reduction of government aid which he argues is critical for achieving his philanthropic goals, particularly in combating diseases and improving maternal and child health outcomes, according to Africa News and Al Jazeera.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, established in 2000, has already given away over $100 billion and is set to budget $9 billion annually by 2026. Gates emphasized the need for government support to sustain progress in global health, lamenting the cuts that hamper these efforts. He remarked that without U.S. funding, initiatives like polio eradication face significant challenges, as noted by South China Morning Post and TRT Global.

In his recent statements, Gates also took aim at Elon Musk, criticizing the way the latter's influence, especially within the U.S. administration, has contributed to significant reductions in critical aid budgets. “The picture of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one,” Gates remarked, urging collective responsibility among wealthy individuals towards philanthropy, as reported by India Times and South China Morning Post.