Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The founder of Microsoft, multi billionaire Bill Gates and his wife Melinda are investing their billions and with the proceeds they are combating health issues around the world.
Bill Gates, born in 1955, co-founded Microsoft in 1975, leading it to become a global software giant. He served as CEO until 2000 and remained actively involved until 2008, when he shifted focus to philanthropy.
Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft, established in 1975, revolutionized personal computing with products like Windows OS and Microsoft Office. Under Gates’s leadership, it became a dominant force in the tech industry.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Founded in 2000, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is one of the world’s largest private philanthropic organizations, focusing on global health, education, and poverty alleviation. It has funded initiatives like vaccine development and agricultural advancements.
Investment Portfolio
The foundation’s trust manages a diverse investment portfolio to fund its philanthropic activities. As of the third quarter of 2024, the portfolio is valued at approximately $45.1 billion, with 24 holdings. The top five positions are:
- Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): 27.64% of the portfolio, valued at $12.46 billion.
- Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B): 22.60%, valued at $10.19 billion.
- Waste Management Inc. (WM): 14.83%, valued at $6.69 billion.
- Canadian National Railway Co. (CNR.TO): 14.24%, valued at $6.42 billion.
- Caterpillar Inc. (CAT): 6.38%, valued at $2.88 billion.
These five holdings constitute over 85% of the total portfolio, indicating a concentrated investment strategy.
In the third quarter of 2024, the foundation made notable adjustments:
- Trimmed positions in Microsoft, Berkshire Hathaway, and Waste Management.
- Added two new stocks, signaling a bullish outlook on specific sectors.
Beyond the foundation, Gates’s personal investments include:
- Cascade Investment LLC: A private investment firm managing his personal wealth.
- Farmland: Gates is the largest private owner of U.S. farmland, with holdings across 19 states.
- TerraPower: A nuclear reactor design company aiming to develop next-generation nuclear power plants.
Gates’s investment philosophy emphasizes long-term value, focusing on companies with strong fundamentals and sustainable business models. His philanthropic investments aim to stimulate private sector innovation to address global challenges.
In summary, Bill Gates’s journey from Microsoft co-founder to philanthropist is marked by strategic investments that support both financial growth and global development initiatives.