Bill Gates says he owns 1 out of every 4000 acres of all US farmland – why has he taken such a big position?

Core Insights - Bill Gates has transitioned from Microsoft to focus on philanthropy through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, investing billions annually in significant projects [1] - Gates' net worth is estimated at $105.8 billion, with approximately $13 billion in Microsoft stock and the remainder diversified across various private investments, including U.S. farmland [2] - Gates reportedly owns around 270,000 acres of farmland in the U.S., equating to roughly 1/4000 of the total U.S. farmland, with significant investments in states like Nebraska [3] Investment in Farmland - Farmland is considered a broad asset class that can serve as a hedge against inflation, with U.S. farmland values rising by 10.2% in 2022, outpacing the average inflation rate of 8% [5] - The high costs associated with purchasing farmland make it a challenging investment for many, often requiring accredited investor status due to financing difficulties [6]