Bill Gates’ Foundation Trust cuts Microsoft stake by 65% — dropping to a mere $4.7 billion in its vast portfolio

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The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Trust is the financial engine behind the Foundation’s charitable activities. It handles the substantial assets given by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and the generous, continuing contributions from Warren Buffett.

The Trust functions independently from the main Foundation, which concentrates on giving out grants and managing health and education initiatives worldwide. Its financial assets are openly reported through standard filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Trust significantly decreased its investment in Microsoft during the quarter ending September 30, 2025, selling over 17 million shares – a reduction of about 65%. Microsoft had previously been the Trust’s largest investment, worth around $13 billion and representing almost a third of its total holdings.

How did Gates’ Trust portfolio change after the Microsoft sale?

Following the sale of a majority of its Microsoft stock, the Trust’s portfolio shifted, and Microsoft is now its fourth-largest holding. The total portfolio is currently worth $70 billion, while the portion actively managed is around $36 billion. Berkshire Hathaway is now the Trust’s largest investment, valued at approximately $10.9 billion.

So, after trimming its stake, Microsoft is now worth around $4.7 billion in my portfolio. I’m a big fan of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett’s company – they own a ton of well-known businesses like Dairy Queen, plus a bunch of energy companies. But it’s not just businesses; they’re also smart investors with huge holdings in companies like Apple, Coca-Cola, and several major banks.

Waste Management and Canadian National Railway are now the Trust’s second and third largest investments. The Trust has held these stocks for a long time, and they continue to be important components of its overall investment strategy.

During the quarter, the Trust also sold off parts of several other investments and completely divested from Crown Castle and United Parcel Service. However, it still owns over 9 million shares of Microsoft, remaining a major investor in the company.

What’s next for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust?

The Trust intends to raise its yearly grant distribution to around $9 billion by 2026. Looking further ahead, its ultimate goal is to spend its entire financial endowment by 2045, dedicating all its resources to charitable causes by that time.

Even after Bill Gates sold some of his Microsoft shares, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Trust continues to be one of the biggest investment funds globally.

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2025-11-25 17:41