Billionaire Bill Gates Has 68% of His Foundation's $48 billion Portfolio Invested in 3 Remarkable Stocks

Microsoft - Microsoft has a significant backlog of remaining performance obligations in its cloud business, driven by growing demand from AI developers for computational power, while its enterprise software business continues to provide stable cash flow and support for new data center investments [1][2] - The Azure cloud computing segment has reached a valuation of $75 billion, growing 39% year over year in fiscal 2025's fourth quarter, with management indicating that growth will continue despite supply constraints [2] - Microsoft is planning to spend a record $30 billion in capital expenditures this quarter [1] Gates Foundation - The Gates Foundation remains the largest holder of Microsoft shares, with 26,191,207 shares valued at approximately $13.4 billion as of the end of June [4] - Bill Gates has donated $5 billion in 2022 and previously pledged $15 billion in 2021 to fund the foundation's efforts, which has a portfolio worth about $48 billion, with over two-thirds invested in three major stocks [4][5] - The investment strategy of the Gates Foundation is heavily influenced by Warren Buffett, who has been a longtime friend of Gates [7] Berkshire Hathaway - Berkshire Hathaway constitutes 25% of the Gates Foundation's trust fund, with a current holding of 24,123,684 shares valued at $11.8 billion [9][10] - The stock has seen a decline in value since May due to Buffett's announcement of retirement, leading to reduced investor confidence [11] - Despite this, Berkshire's operating results have been strong, with operating earnings exceeding expectations [12] Waste Management - Waste Management represents 15% of the Gates Foundation's trust, with 32,234,344 shares valued at about $7 billion [14] - The company has a strong competitive position due to regulatory hurdles that limit new landfill openings, making its existing assets highly valuable [16] - Waste Management reported an EBITDA margin of 29.9% last quarter, with overall EBITDA growth of 19%, reflecting strong organic growth despite challenges from a newly acquired business segment [17][18]