The billionaire investor still owns a large stake in the company he co-founded.
Bill Gates is microsoft (MSFT 2.22%). The company is best known for developing the ubiquitous Windows operating system (OS), Internet Explorer, and his Office suite of productivity software.
More recently, Microsoft has expanded its portfolio to include the Azure cloud, Teams workplace platform, Surface laptop and notebook computers, Xbox gaming consoles, and more, among others.
Image source: Getty Images.
Connection with AI
As a former CEO, it’s no surprise that much of Gates’ fortune is still tied to Microsoft stock. It’s easy to see why, other than it being his previous company. Gates has been vocal about the huge potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to change the way we live and interact with technology. Microsoft is at the forefront of generative AI, developing the Copilots suite to streamline tasks and improve employee productivity.
In a survey of early users, 70% of respondents said they were more productive using Copilot, and 77% said they didn’t want to stop using Copilot. Additionally, AI is powering Microsoft Azure. Microsoft Azure was the fastest growing cloud infrastructure provider in the fourth quarter, with revenue up 30% year-over-year. The company said 6 percentage points of that growth was due to AI.
show me the money
In recent years, Gates has focused on philanthropy, pledging to eventually donate “virtually all” of his wealth to charity. To achieve that goal of his, he established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, where most of his vast fortune is kept.
Gates’ net worth is estimated to be around $127 billion, according to forbes. Nearly $46 billion of that is held in trusts, regulatory filings show. This includes over 38 million Microsoft shares worth over $15 billion.
Investors may learn a lesson from Gates. If he’s willing to risk $15 billion on Microsoft stock, it might be worth considering.
Danny Vena has a position at Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a role in and recommends Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: His long January 2026 $395 call on Microsoft and his short January 2026 $405 call on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
