Bill Gates loses $51 billion after committing to donate his fortune

In early July 2025, Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and philanthropist, reported a significant reduction in his net worth, which fell by $51 billion in a matter of days. This drastic decline came after he reaffirmed his commitment to donate nearly all his wealth through the Gates Foundation over the next two decades. His wealth decreased from $175 billion to $124 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. This decision is part of Gates' broader intention to leave a legacy focused on philanthropy rather than personal wealth. Gates, now 69 years old, mentioned that he is determined not to be remembered as someone who died rich. The philanthropic efforts of the Gates Foundation have reportedly distributed over $100 billion since its inception, targeting various pressing global challenges such as health care and poverty alleviation. The decision to donate his fortune is partly inspired by Gates' firsthand experience with the foundation's work, such as distribution of vaccines to combat preventable diseases in developing countries. His recent announcement has also been influenced by his observations of humanitarian crises exacerbated by cuts to U.S. foreign aid and global funding, which he believes hampers progress. Gates noted that urgent problems need solutions and resources should not be held back when they can be utilized to help those in need. As a result of this philanthropic fervor, Gates has slipped in global wealth rankings, falling from the top position to 12th place. He is now ranked just behind Michael Dell and Steve Ballmer, his former colleague at Microsoft. This considerable shift highlights both his commitment to philanthropy and the financial repercussions of such actions, raising discussions on the role of billionaires in addressing global issues and their responsibility to redistribute wealth.