Bill Gates Could Have Been 'World's First Trillionaire' By Ignoring Buffett's Advice — Instead, He Lost $10 Billion Shorting Tesla, Says Elon Musk

Core Insights - Elon Musk reignited discussions about Bill Gates' wealth and potential net worth had he not followed conventional wealth planning advice [1] - Gates could have been the world's first trillionaire, with a net worth of $1.5 trillion if he had retained his Microsoft shares [2][3] Group 1: Wealth and Investment Decisions - Bill Gates sold his Microsoft shares based on advice from Warren Buffett to diversify his investments [3] - Microsoft’s market capitalization has reached $3.6 trillion, contributing to the significant increase in Gates' potential net worth [3] - Gates' philanthropic efforts with Melinda Gates also impacted his wealth accumulation [3] Group 2: Tesla Short Position - Bill Gates has held a short position against Tesla, estimated at about 1% of the company's total shares outstanding [4][5] - This short position has reportedly cost Gates approximately $10 billion as Tesla's stock price has increased significantly over the years [5]