Bill Gates currently owns less than 2% of Microsoft stock.
While he was the CEO of Microsoft, he held a significant portion of the company's shares. However, over the years, he has gradually sold off a large amount of his stock to focus on his philanthropic endeavors through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Here's a breakdown of his ownership over time:
- 1986: Gates held approximately 45% of Microsoft stock.
- 2000: His stake decreased to 21%.
- 2014: Gates stepped down as Microsoft's chairman and reduced his ownership further.
- Present: His current stake in Microsoft is estimated to be around 1.3%.
Although his ownership has significantly decreased, Gates remains one of the largest shareholders in Microsoft. He still holds a significant amount of wealth from his investment in the company, which has made him one of the wealthiest individuals in the world.