Bill Gates Gives Away Microsoft Fortune

Bill Gates, renowned as the co-founder of Microsoft, has prioritized philanthropy over accumulating personal wealth. Though he holds a substantial stake of approximately 103 million Microsoft shares, valued at around $43 billion as of May 2026, his philanthropic endeavors are paramount.

This contrasts with Steve Ballmer, who succeeded Gates as CEO and currently holds the distinction of being Microsoft's largest individual shareholder. Microsoft's current CEO, Satya Nadella, holds a significantly smaller number of shares compared to Gates.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, co-founded by Gates, has announced plans to accelerate its giving. The foundation anticipates distributing over $200 billion in grants before concluding its operations on December 31, 2045.

Gates has expressed a strong desire not to be remembered as "rich" upon his death. He aims for his net worth to decrease by 99% over the next two decades, emphasizing the urgency of addressing global problems with available resources.

While Gates and Ballmer have stepped down from the company's board, their historical impact on Microsoft's shareholder landscape remains significant. Institutional investors like The Vanguard Group and BlackRock hold considerably larger stakes in Microsoft than any individual.