How much of Microsoft does Bill Gates still own?

Bill Gates currently owns approximately 1% of Microsoft common stock (worth roughly $31 Billion). He methodically sold the vast majority of his original 45% stake over three decades to fund Cascade Investment LLC and the Gates Foundation.

Why does Bill Gates own so much American farmland?

Bill Gates holds approximately 275,000 acres of American farmland through Cascade Investment LLC across more than a dozen states. The investments are managed to support sustainable soil health, water conservation, and crop productivity as high-performing productive real assets.

LLNI™ MODELVALUATION Q3 2026

RANK #16TechLast Verified: 2026-09-24United States • Age 70

Bill Gates Net Worth (2026)

Microsoft Co-Founder & Philanthropist • Career Earnings, Compensation & Valuation Analysis

Estimated Net Worth (2026)

$114.30 Billion

+2.8% (24h)•Peak Valuation

Researched & Edited byGail Gardner Forbes Contributor•Catalog Added: Sept 1, 2026•Last Verified: 2026-09-24

Primary Benchmarks:SEC Form 4/10-K Filings, Corporate Venture Disclosures, Bloomberg & Forbes Benchmarks

Standards Methodology →

Executive Wealth Brief • Quick Answer

As of September 19, 2026

As of September 19, 2026, Bill Gates has an estimated net worth of $114.30 Billion. Their primary wealth drivers stem from foundational equity in Bill Gates Enterprise Holdings, strategic capital appreciation, and an estimated cash-flow velocity of $4,320,000/hr.

Estimated Net Worth (Sept 19, 2026): $114B
24h Velocity: +2.8%
Wealth Rank: #16 (Tech)
Source Coverage: Strong (Public SEC & Filings)

Curated Editorial Biography & Career Trajectory

Career Milestones & Narrative

EDITORIAL PROFILE & DETAILS

1975–2000: The Microsoft Monopoly & DOS/Windows Era

The Altair 8800 to Global PC Standard Operating System

Dropping out of Harvard University in 1975 with childhood friend Paul Allen, Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft to write software for the early microcomputer revolution. By licensing MS-DOS to IBM while maintaining copyright ownership to license to third-party PC clone manufacturers, Gates built the dominant computing operating system in history, propelling Windows to over 90% desktop market share.

“A computer on every desk and in every home, running Microsoft software.”

2000–2015: Portfolio Re-allocation & De-risking

Cascade Investment & Institutional Asset Diversification

Stepping down as Microsoft CEO in 2000, Gates methodically diversified his wealth away from pure tech volatility through his private investment holding firm Cascade Investment LLC. Managed by Michael Larson, Cascade acquired controlling or major stakes in non-cyclical enterprises including Four Seasons Hotels, Republic Services, Canadian National Railway, and Deere & Co.

“Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.”

2015–Present: Gates Foundation & Breakthrough Energy

Global Eradication Philanthropy & Clean Energy Tech

Directing the majority of his focus to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates has deployed over $75 Billion to eradicate polio, reduce child mortality, and develop malaria vaccines. Simultaneously, through Breakthrough Energy Ventures and nuclear innovation firm TerraPower, Gates became America’s leading private investor in advanced nuclear reactors and agricultural farmland.

Latest Documented Milestone (2026)Quarterly research details updated by ListTribe.

Venture Equity & Commercial Holdings

RESEARCH-BASED VALUATION

Venture / Commercial Asset	Period	Asset Class / Role	Gross Haul / Valuation	Net Payout / Royalties
Microsoft Corporation IPO (NASDAQ: MSFT)	1986	Co-Founder & CEO	$780M Mkt Cap	Retained 45% Equity
Cascade Investment LLC Formation & Diversification	1995–Present	Family Office Asset Manager	$60B+ Portfolio	De-risked from Tech Volatility
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts Majority Buyout	2021	Consortium Deal with Kingdom Holding	$10.0B Valuation	71.25% Controlling Stake
Farmland Portfolio Assemblage	2010–2024	Strategic Agriculture Inflow	$2.5B+ Outlay	275,000+ Verified Acres

⚡ Documented via SEC Form 4 filings, secondary equity tender offers, and corporate venture disclosures.Status: Documented Evidence

Portfolio Allocation Breakdown

ESTIMATED LIQUIDITY

Cascade Investment & Diversified Equities (Republic Services, Ecolab, Deere)

$91.4B80%

Microsoft Remaining Shares & Clean Tech Ventures

$22.9B20%

DATA GOVERNANCE STANDARD v2.0

Institutional Valuation & Evidence Details

ListTribe Estimated Net Worth Model Verified

$114B

Valuation Date: September 19, 2026•Research-Based Asset Model

Legacy Search ConsensusPre-Breakthrough

$105B

Variance Delta: 9%

Why ListTribe Differs from Outdated Google Snippets:

Cascade Investment LLC diversification across Four Seasons Hotels, Republic Services, and America’s premier farmland portfolio (275,000+ acres).

ClassificationInstitutional Model

Primary SourceSEC Disclosures, Corpora

Valuation EngineDCF & Waterfall

Verification StandardMulti-Source Verified

ListTribe synthesizes publicly disclosed regulatory filings (SEC Form 4 and 10-K), trade guild minimum compensation schedules (SAG-AFTRA / WGA), box office receipts via Comscore/TMDB, and Pollstar live touring ledgers. Private enterprise holdings apply discounted cash flow (DCF) frameworks with industry-standard 20–30% private company illiquidity discounts.

⚡ Modeling: 45–50% federal/state tax haircut • 15–20% representation commission deductionRead full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions & Verification

Documented Questions & Financial Inquiries

EDITORIAL FAQ

Bill Gates' estimated net worth in 2026 is approximately $114.3 Billion. His wealth is diversified through Cascade Investment LLC, which holds majority or substantial stakes in Four Seasons Hotels, Republic Services, Ecolab, and Canadian National Railway, alongside ~1% of Microsoft Corporation, farmland, and liquid debt reserves.