Michael Bloomberg (D-N.Y.), the former New York City Mayor and failed presidential candidate, has vowed to spend at least $40 million to help combat the spread of the coronavirus in Africa and other countries besides the United States, according to ABC News.
Bloomberg made the announcement on Twitter, saying that he and his company are “committing to $40M to prevent and slow [coronavirus’s] spread around the world, particularly in Africa.” Bloomberg said that he will be partnering with international organizations such as the World Health Organization and Vital Strategies, as well as former CDC Director Thomas Frieden.
In an additional statement, Bloomberg said that “millions of lives depend on getting the coronavirus response right – and so does the economic and social health of communities around the world.” The billionaire made no reference to any efforts to stop the spread in his own country, the United States.
With an estimated wealth of about $62 billion, Bloomberg is among the top ten wealthiest men in the world. He briefly ran for president as a Democrat, setting the record for the most expensive presidential primary campaign in U.S. history as he spent nearly $700 million of his own money on his campaign. After failing to win any primaries besides the American Samoa caucuses, he suspended his campaign after Super Tuesday and endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden.