does bill gates still own microsoft stock 2025

Short answer: does bill gates still own microsoft stock? Yes — primarily via the Gates Foundation Trust. As of November 2025 the Trust sharply reduced its stake in Q3 2025 but still held roughly 9....

2026-01-20 01:02:00

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Bill Gates' ownership of Microsoft stock

does bill gates still own microsoft stock? Short answer: Yes — Bill Gates, chiefly through the Gates Foundation Trust, still owns Microsoft (MSFT) shares. As of November 2025 the Trust disclosed a major reduction in Q3 2025, selling roughly 17 million shares (about a 64–65% reduction) and retaining a multi‑billion dollar position reported at about 9.1 million shares (valued roughly $4.7–$4.8 billion in November 2025). The reduction was disclosed in SEC 13F filings and widely reported by financial media.

This article gives a clear, beginner‑friendly view of Bill Gates' Microsoft holdings, the 2025 divestment, how holdings are reported, and what it may mean for investors and philanthropic planning. You will learn: the ownership structure, timeline of major transfers, reasons reported for the sale, market reaction, and where to find authoritative updates (SEC filings). For traders and crypto users interested in trading or custody options, explore Bitget and Bitget Wallet for secure fiat-to-crypto access and institutional-style tools.

Background

Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft in 1975 and built one of the most influential technology companies in history. Over decades, Gates accumulated substantial Microsoft stock both through grants and direct ownership as Microsoft grew into a global software and cloud leader. As Microsoft expanded, Gates became one of the largest individual shareholders in the company.

Beginning in the late 1990s and accelerating in the 2000s and 2010s, Gates directed large blocks of Microsoft shares into philanthropic vehicles, notably the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Gates Foundation Trust. These transfers supported the Foundation’s long‑term charitable mission and helped diversify Gates’ personal exposure to a single company.

Gates stepped back from day‑to‑day operational duties at Microsoft in 2008 and later left the board in 2020. Over time he publicly committed to donating the majority of his wealth and to increasing charitable grantmaking. The movement of Microsoft stock into philanthropic trusts and periodic sales has been part of a gradual process of rebalancing personal and philanthropic portfolios.

Ownership structure and reporting

Understanding ownership requires a distinction between Bill Gates’ personal holdings and the holdings of philanthropic investment vehicles:

Gates Foundation Trust (sometimes shorthand as the Gates Foundation) — This trust holds a large portion of the investment portfolio that funds charitable grants. In public reporting and media, most references to Gates’ Microsoft holdings point to the Trust’s position rather than direct personal shares.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (the operating foundation) — The Trust provides capital to the Foundation; the Foundation itself focuses on programmatic grantmaking.
Cascade Investments and external managers — Investment decisions for Gates’ investment vehicles have historically been managed by Cascade Investments and external managers for aspects of the portfolio. Cascade is often reported as Gates’ primary private investment vehicle for his non‑philanthropic assets.

Public transparency comes primarily from regulatory filings and public disclosures. Institutional equity holdings for investment managers and large institutional holders are tracked in SEC Form 13F filings (quarterly) and in other disclosures. Analysts, financial outlets, and databases use these filings to report holdings by institutional entities like the Gates Foundation Trust. When media reports refer to Gates’ Microsoft stake, they commonly cite the Trust’s 13F filings to quantify share counts and changes.

The 2025 divestment (Q3 2025)

As of November 2025, public filings and contemporaneous coverage documented a significant reduction in the Trust’s Microsoft position during the third quarter of 2025.

Transaction summary: The Gates Foundation Trust sold approximately 17 million Microsoft shares in Q3 2025, which represented about a 64–65% reduction in its Microsoft stake compared with the position at the start of the quarter. (As reported in SEC 13F filings and summarized by multiple outlets in November 2025.)
Proceeds: At quarter‑average prices, this sale generated an estimated $8.7–$8.8 billion in gross proceeds for the Trust (reported Nov 2025).
Post‑sale position: After the sale, the Gates Foundation Trust reported holding around 9.1 million Microsoft shares, which were valued at approximately $4.7–$4.8 billion in November 2025 based on prevailing market prices reported at that time.

As of November 2025, the Trust’s Microsoft position dropped from being the largest holding to a lower ranking among its portfolio assets (media reported it as the fourth‑largest holding post‑sale). These numbers are drawn from the Trust’s reported 13F filings and from media summaries published in November 2025.

Stated and analyst explanations for the sale

Multiple contemporaneous reports and analyst commentaries in November 2025 framed the Q3 2025 sale as a philanthropic and portfolio management decision rather than a signal about Microsoft’s underlying business. Key explanations reported included:

Portfolio rebalancing and concentration risk reduction: The Trust historically held a concentrated position in Microsoft. Selling shares reduces concentration risk and better diversifies the Trust’s asset mix.
Liquidity for increased grantmaking: Media reports and filings noted the Trust may have been raising liquidity to support planned increases in grantmaking. Several outlets cited reported plans to raise annual grants to roughly $9 billion by 2026, which would require additional liquid assets to fund planned charitable outflows.
Spend‑down / planned spending horizon: The Gates Foundation Trust has publicly discussed long‑term philanthropic time horizons and reported targets to spend down assets over multi‑decade plans (reports mentioned a target to spend down by 2045). The sale fits within a broader pattern of monetizing appreciated holdings to fund philanthropic work.

Analysts generally emphasized that the sale appeared motivated by the Trust’s liquidity and charitable objectives. Many observers cautioned against interpreting the divestment as an indictment of Microsoft’s fundamentals; commentary often underscored Microsoft’s continued strength in cloud services, enterprise software, and AI product integration.

Market reaction and investor implications

Short‑term market response: News of the Trust’s sale prompted immediate market commentary and modest share price movement in the short term—as often happens when a large, well‑known holder reduces an equity stake. Press coverage in November 2025 noted short‑term volatility and investor questions about why a major institutional holder would trim its position.

Investor takeaways commonly reported by analysts:

Liquidity‑driven moves are not always directional: Institutional sales for liquidity or philanthropic reasons do not necessarily reflect a negative view of a company’s long‑term growth prospects.
Individual investors should consider fundamentals: Analysts advised retail investors to focus on Microsoft’s business fundamentals (cloud and AI positioning, enterprise contracts, profitability) rather than mimic a large institutional liquidity move.
Rebalancing vs. signaling: Market commentators distinguished between rebalancing for diversification/liquidity and an explicit vote on company fundamentals. Many framed the Gates Foundation Trust sale as primarily the former.

Overall, many observers concluded the Q3 2025 sale was non‑directional for long‑term investors, while short‑term traders might react to news flow. Microsoft’s strategic position in cloud computing and AI remained central to the investment thesis in coverage following the sale.

Historical timeline of major transfers and sales

Bill Gates’ relationship with Microsoft ownership evolved over decades. Key milestones relevant to ownership, as reported over time, include:

1975–1990s: Gates accumulates large ownership as co‑founder and primary executive; Microsoft grows from a startup to a dominant software provider.
Late 1990s–2000s: Gates begins transferring portions of his Microsoft holdings into philanthropic structures, particularly the nascent Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and associated trusts.
2000s–2010s: Continued donations and sales to fund the Foundation’s growing global programs, while Gates steps back from daily operational roles. Gates retired from day‑to‑day responsibilities in 2008.
2010s–2020s: Periodic sales and transfers continue, with the Foundation and Trust remaining major holders of Microsoft stock; Gates leaves Microsoft’s board in 2020.
Q3 2025: A substantial sale of roughly 17 million shares by the Gates Foundation Trust, representing approximately a 64–65% cut to the Trust’s Microsoft position, generating an estimated $8.7–$8.8 billion in proceeds (reported Nov 2025).

These milestones show a long‑term pattern: Gates has gradually reduced direct Microsoft exposure via donations and periodic sales while maintaining significant philanthropic funding through the Trust. The 2025 divestment represents a large but not unprecedented step in that process.

Current status (as of latest public filings in November 2025)

As of November 2025, public filings and media coverage reported the following authoritative figures:

Holdings: The Gates Foundation Trust reported holding roughly 9.1 million Microsoft shares after its Q3 2025 sales.
Valuation: Those holdings were valued at approximately $4.7–$4.8 billion based on market prices reported in November 2025.
Ranking: Microsoft moved down from being the Trust’s largest holding to being reported as its fourth‑largest holding in some media summaries.

As of November 2025, these figures were drawn from SEC Form 13F filings and contemporaneous media reporting. Ownership numbers are subject to change with subsequent SEC filings, market price moves, and any further transactions by the Trust or Gates’ personal investment vehicles. For the most authoritative and current data, check the Trust’s next SEC 13F filing or other official disclosures where the Trust’s holdings are reported.

What the filings and reports actually say (how to read them)

If you want to follow does bill gates still own microsoft stock in real time, here’s how to read the public record:

SEC Form 13F: Quarterly filings list long equity positions held by institutional investment managers with at least $100 million in qualifying assets. The filings show security name, CUSIP, share count, and fair market value.
13F‑HR and amendments: Sometimes institutions file amended 13Fs; always check the latest filing for the most accurate quarter‑end snapshot.
Media summaries vs. filings: Media outlets parse 13F items and offer context—useful for narrative—but the 13F is the primary source for share counts.

Remember: 13F filings are retrospective and show holdings at quarter end, so they may lag intraday or later transactions. They also do not report short positions or cash holdings, so they give a partial view of a manager’s entire balance sheet.

Stated limits and caveats

Not a personal holding snapshot: When media refer to Bill Gates’ holdings, they usually mean the Gates Foundation Trust or related vehicles—not necessarily Bill Gates’ direct personal account holdings.
Timing and valuation: Share counts are reported at quarter‑end on 13Fs. Valuations fluctuate with market prices. The figures cited here reflect what was reported and valued in November 2025.
No investment advice: This article summarizes public facts and reported explanations. It is not investment advice and does not recommend buying or selling any securities.

Market and philanthropic context: why large holders sell

Large institutional holders, including philanthropic trusts, often sell concentrated positions for several practical reasons:

Liquidity needs: Charitable grants and programmatic spending require cash. Selling appreciated stock is a common way to raise funds.
Diversification: Concentrated holdings expose an investor or trust to company‑specific risk. Diversification reduces volatility and tail risk.
Tax considerations and estate planning: Although philanthropic trusts have different tax treatments, managers still consider portfolio efficiency and long‑term funding needs.
Strategic reallocation: Changes in investment policy, risk tolerance, or long‑term spending strategy can prompt sales.

In the Gates Foundation Trust’s case, reported motivations in November 2025 emphasized granting needs and planned increases in annual philanthropic spend rather than public critiques of Microsoft’s business.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: does bill gates still own microsoft stock personally? A: The majority of the Microsoft shares associated with Bill Gates are held by the Gates Foundation Trust and related philanthropic structures rather than titled personally to Bill Gates. Public filings show the Trust’s holdings.

Q: Did Bill Gates sell all his Microsoft shares in 2025? A: No. The Trust sold roughly 17 million shares in Q3 2025 but retained an estimated ~9.1 million shares as reported in November 2025.

Q: Does the sale mean Microsoft is a bad company? A: Most analysts framed the sale as driven by portfolio and philanthropic needs. Microsoft’s business fundamentals (Azure cloud, enterprise software, AI integration) remained the primary focus for investors.

Q: Where can I verify future updates on this topic? A: Check the Gates Foundation Trust’s SEC 13F filings (and any associated press releases) for quarter‑end holdings. Financial press outlets also summarize filings but always cross‑reference the 13F.

References and sources

This article draws on SEC Form 13F filings and contemporaneous financial reporting published in November 2025. Representative sources that reported on the Q3 2025 filings include financial outlets and news summaries. For transparency, notable sources and the reporting date context are listed below:

As of November 2025, according to SEC 13F filings and reporting by The Motley Fool, the Gates Foundation Trust sold roughly 17 million Microsoft shares in Q3 2025, generating about $8.7–$8.8 billion in proceeds. (Reported Nov 2025.)
As of November 2025, Yahoo Finance and IDNFinancials reported post‑sale holdings near 9.1 million shares valued at about $4.7–$4.8 billion. (Reported Nov 2025.)
As of November 2025, The Economic Times and Times of India published summaries indicating the Trust’s Microsoft holding moved down in ranking among its portfolio holdings following the sale. (Reported Nov 2025.)
As of November 2025, Windows Central and Capital.com provided context around the Trust’s strategy, suggesting the sale was driven by downward concentration management and philanthropic liquidity needs. (Reported Nov 2025.)
As of November 2025, People.com and aggregated outlets summarized public interest in the sale and its philanthropic rationale. (Reported Nov 2025.)

Note: The precise SEC filing dates are referenced in the filings themselves. For the most authoritative and up‑to‑date numbers, consult the Gates Foundation Trust’s filings on the SEC EDGAR system and subsequent quarter filings.

Final notes

To recap: does bill gates still own microsoft stock? Yes — as of November 2025, Bill Gates’ investment vehicles (primarily the Gates Foundation Trust) still held Microsoft shares after a large Q3 2025 sale that reduced the Trust’s stake by roughly 64–65%. The sale generated sizable liquidity (estimated $8.7–$8.8 billion) and left the Trust with about 9.1 million shares, valued around $4.7–$4.8 billion at the time of reporting.

Figures and positions change with subsequent SEC filings and market price movement. For the most reliable updates, consult the Gates Foundation Trust’s filings and authoritative SEC disclosures.

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