Gates Foundation Sells Remaining Microsoft Shares

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Saturday, May 16, 2026 The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust has fully exited its position in Microsoft Corporation after selling its remaining 7.7 million shares during the first quarter, according to recent regulatory filings.

The shares were valued at approximately $3.2 billion at current market prices, marking the end of a long-term holding in the company co-founded by Bill Gates.

Long-Term Portfolio Shift and Rebalancing

A year earlier, the trust held about 28.5 million Microsoft shares worth roughly $10.7 billion, representing around 26% of its total portfolio. The gradual reduction over time reflects a significant restructuring of the foundation’s investment strategy.

The trust is the charitable endowment linked to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is overseen by Bill Gates as the sole trustee, while investment management is handled through Cascade Asset Management.

Broader Investment Strategy and Market Activity

The foundation has been steadily reducing concentrated holdings in major technology and industrial companies as part of a broader effort to diversify its portfolio and support long-term philanthropic funding needs.

Despite the full exit by the trust, Bill Gates still maintains personal exposure to Microsoft Corporation through separate holdings.