Bill Gates says Mark Zuckerberg is 'off to a very good start' with plan to give away 90% of his wealth

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates recently praised Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for his commitment to giving away the majority of his wealth.

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates recently praised Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for his commitment to giving away the majority of his wealth, stating that the young tech mogul was “off to a very good start.” In a recent interview with Fortune, Gates spoke about the spirit of giving among young entrepreneurs and commended Zuckerberg’s philanthropic trajectory through the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative.

“There are exemplars, like Mark Zuckerberg, who through the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative is committed to give over 90% of his wealth, and he’s off to a very good start,” Gates remarked. “He’s someone I talk to about a lot of things, including philanthropy.”

Gates further acknowledged the growing community of tech entrepreneurs participating in large-scale giving, noting, “There are dozens and dozens of tech entrepreneurs in the Giving Pledge doing amazing giving.”

The Giving Pledge is a philanthropic campaign co-founded by Gates, his then-wife Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett. It calls on the world’s wealthiest individuals and families to commit to giving the majority of their fortune to charitable causes during their lifetimes or in their wills.

Gates, who has long been regarded as one of the most influential philanthropists of the modern era, reaffirmed his own intentions to donate virtually all of his fortune through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In a previous announcement published on Gates Notes, he wrote, “I will give away virtually all my wealth through the Gates Foundation over the next 20 years to the cause of saving and improving lives around the world. And on December 31, 2045, the foundation will close its doors permanently.”

He explained that this marked a significant shift from the foundation’s original vision. “This is a change from our original plans,” Gates stated. “When Melinda and I started the Gates Foundation in 2000, we included a clause in the foundation’s very first charter: The organisation would sunset several decades after our deaths.”

“A few years ago, I began to rethink that approach. More recently, with the input from our board, I now believe we can achieve the foundation’s goals on a shorter timeline, especially if we double down on key investments and provide more certainty to our partners,” he said.

Gates revealed that the decision to fast-track the foundation’s closure emerged during what he called “a moment of reflection.” He pointed out that the year 2025 held special personal significance, with several key milestones approaching.

“Next year marks the 25th anniversary of our foundation, the 50th anniversary of Microsoft, and my 70th birthday,” he shared. He also paid tribute to his father, who would have turned 100, noting that he played a pivotal role in helping establish the foundation. “My dad helped me start the foundation. He would have turned 100 next year,” Gates wrote.