Bill Gates Has Nearly 30% of His $35 Billion Portfolio in 1 Stock and It's Not Microsoft The Gates Foundation, established by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in 2000, manages a vast charitable trust with over $86 billion in total assets. A significant portion of this wealth—nearly $35 billion—is invested in publicly traded companies, with one stock dominating the portfolio. Contrary to expectations, the largest holding is not Microsoft, but rather Berkshire Hathaway. The foundation’s stock portfolio includes 23 individual holdings, but 96% of its assets are concentrated in its top 10 positions. Berkshire Hathaway stands out as the single largest investment, accounting for 28% of the portfolio. As of late 2025, the foundation owned approximately 19.4 million Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway, valued at around $9.8 billion. Other major holdings include Waste Management and Canadian National Railway, while Microsoft ranks as the fourth-largest position with a 10.5% allocation. The foundation’s heavy investment in Berkshire Hathaway stems from Warren Buffett’s long-standing practice of donating shares to the Gates Foundation and other charities. From 2006 to 2024, Buffett contributed a total of $43.3 billion in Berkshire stock to the foundation. Over time, the foundation has sold portions of its Berkshire holdings to fund charitable initiatives, including a $1 billion raise in the fourth quarter of 2025 through the sale of 2.36 million shares. Microsoft’s presence in the portfolio reflects Gates’ own historical contributions. At the time of Microsoft’s 1986 IPO, Gates held 45% of the company, but his stake has since dwindled to less than 1%. Donations to his foundation have been a key factor in reducing his ownership.#microsoft #berkshire_hathaway #warren_buffett #bill_gates #the_gates_foundation
Billionaire Bill Gates Has 60% of His Foundation's $38 Billion Stock Portfolio Invested In 3 Timeless Companies Bill Gates' investment strategy is heavily influenced by Warren Buffett. He favors slow-growing value stocks with wide competitive moats. Bill Gates is one of the most well-known billionaires in the world. The Microsoft founder became the wealthiest person in the world in the late 1990s, as the tech company's value soared. Despite giving away a large chunk of his wealth since the turn of the century, Gates' net worth still sits above $100 billion. But he plans to give away almost all of it to the Gates Foundation by 2045. The Gates Foundation maintains a large endowment to fund improvements in health, gender equality, development, and education worldwide. A big part of that is its $38 billion equity portfolio. While Gates made his riches in technology, the foundation's equity portfolio reflects his personal investment style and the heavy influence of longtime friend and former Gates Foundation board member Warren Buffett. That includes a willingness to maintain a highly concentrated portfolio. In fact, about 60% of the portfolio is held in just three stocks. Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA 1.54%) (BRKB 1.65%) is the largest holding in the foundation's portfolio, accounting for 26% of its assets. The Gates Foundation receives an annual injection of Berkshire shares from Warren Buffett. This year's donation added 9.4 million Class B shares to the portfolio. Buffett's donation comes with the stipulation that the foundation must spend an amount equal to his donation plus 5% of its other assets each year to receive the next donation.#berkshire_hathaway #warren_buffett #bill_gates #gates_foundation #waste_management
Gates Foundation's $86 Billion Portfolio Heavily Concentrated in Berkshire Hathaway The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the charitable organization founded by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, manages a portfolio valued at $86 billion. According to a report from Yahoo Finance, the foundation’s equity holdings are heavily concentrated, with 96% of its portfolio’s value tied to its ten largest investments. A single stock accounts for 28% of the entire portfolio, but this is not Microsoft, the company Gates co-founded. Instead, the dominant position is held by Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B), the conglomerate led by Warren Buffett. As of the end of 2025, the foundation owned approximately 19.4 million Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares, valued at around $9.8 billion. Other significant holdings include Waste Management (WM) and Canadian National Railway (CNI). Microsoft (MSFT) is the fourth-largest holding, representing a 10.5% allocation. The foundation’s investment in Berkshire Hathaway stems from annual charitable donations made by Buffett over decades. From 2006 to 2024, Buffett donated a total of $43.3 billion in Berkshire stock to the foundation. The foundation’s current $9.8 billion stake in Berkshire is lower than the cumulative donation because shares are sold over time to fund philanthropic activities. For example, in the final quarter of 2025, the foundation sold 2.36 million Berkshire shares, generating over $1 billion. This strategy aligns with Buffett’s intent to support charitable causes while managing the foundation’s financial resources. The foundation has deployed more than $102 billion in total philanthropy since its inception, reflecting its long-term commitment to global initiatives.#microsoft #berkshire_hathaway #warren_buffett #bill_melinda_gates_foundation #yahoo_finance
Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO Greg Abel reported a decline in underwriting and investment income for the company’s insurance and reinsurance operations in his first annual report to investors. The results reflect a shift from two years of rising underwriting profits, with all sectors—personal lines, commercial lines, and reinsurance—showing shrinking underwriting income and higher combined ratios. Abel’s letter to shareholders highlighted the challenges facing the conglomerate’s property/casualty units, which remained profitable but faced ongoing pressures. GEICO, the largest insurer within the group, accounted for over 50% of the $1.9 billion year-over-year drop in pretax underwriting profits. Across all property/casualty operations, pretax underwriting profits fell 16.5% to $9.7 billion. Abel warned that slowing growth is likely to persist into 2026, citing the impact of GEICO’s broad rate increases, which restored margins but reduced customer retention. Competitors’ rate reductions could further strain the sector. Abel emphasized the need for the GEICO team to balance pricing risks for existing and new customers while maintaining underwriting discipline. In commercial insurance, demand remained strong in 2025, but pricing pressures emerged as more capital entered the market. Abel noted that while the company prioritized underwriting discipline over volume, premium growth plateaued as pricing became less attractive. He warned that primary insurance businesses would face continued headwinds in 2026 and beyond. Reinsurance operations also faced challenges, with significant capital inflows from traditional and alternative markets driving price drops. While reinsured catastrophe losses were less severe in 2025, claims inflation outpaced pricing in casualty reinsurance segments, leading to reduced premium writing.#berkshire_hathaway #state_farm #geico #greg_abel #progressive
Warren Buffett has stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, marking the end of his more than five-decade tenure at the helm of the conglomerate. Greg Abel, who has served as the company’s chief investment officer, has assumed the role of CEO and released his first shareholder letter, detailing his vision for the company’s future. The transition, long anticipated by investors, now officially places Abel in the leadership position, with Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares (NYSE:BRK.B) closing at $481.36. The shift in leadership comes amid a company that has historically been closely tied to Buffett’s legacy. Over the past five years, Class B shares have returned 85.8%, reflecting the strong association between Buffett’s stewardship and the company’s performance. Abel’s letter provides insight into his approach to managing Berkshire’s vast portfolio of businesses, emphasizing continuity in cultural values, capital discipline, and a long-term mindset. Investors are now focused on how closely his strategies align with Buffett’s established playbook and whether he will introduce new priorities. Abel’s vision centers on maintaining the company’s reputation as a steady compounder rather than a speculative investment vehicle. His letter highlights the importance of preserving Berkshire’s culture, which has been a cornerstone of its success. The company’s current cash reserves, bolstered by a record position, offer flexibility for strategic moves such as acquisitions or buybacks. However, challenges remain, including recent declines in operating earnings driven by insurance sector weakness and impairments on investments in Kraft Heinz and Occidental Petroleum. These factors underscore the risks of relying on a diversified but volatile business model.#berkshire_hathaway #warren_buffett #greg_abel #class_b_shares #kraft_heinz
Berkshire Hathaway resumes share buybacks, CEO Greg Abel invests $15 million in company stock Berkshire Hathaway announced on Thursday that it has restarted its share repurchase program for the first time since 2024, with the company beginning to buy back its Class A and Class B shares. Separately, new CEO Greg Abel disclosed that he personally purchased $15 million worth of Berkshire stock, an amount equivalent to his after-tax annual salary. Abel, who took over as CEO in January following the retirement of Warren Buffett, emphasized that he would continue using his full salary to invest in Berkshire shares annually. The company’s policy allows for stock buybacks when the CEO, in consultation with the chairman, Warren Buffett, believes the repurchase price is below the company’s intrinsic value. Abel confirmed he discussed the decision with Buffett, stating that the timing and valuation were key factors in the move. Berkshire’s decision to resume buybacks came amid a challenging year for the company. Shares have declined 3% so far in 2025 and 10% from their record high in May. The stock faced additional pressure earlier this week after the firm reported a nearly 30% drop in fourth-quarter operating earnings, largely due to underperformance in its insurance division. Investors had been calling for the company to deploy its $373.3 billion cash reserves more actively since the last buyback in the second quarter of 2024. The announcement led to a 1% rise in Berkshire B shares during early trading on Thursday. Abel highlighted the importance of transparency with shareholders, noting that the move was intended to signal alignment with investors during the leadership transition.#berkshire_hathaway #factset #warren_buffett #greg_abel #berkshire_b_shares
State Farm Announces $5 Billion Dividend, $100 Average Refund for Car Insurance Customers State Farm revealed on Thursday that it will distribute a record $5 billion in dividends to its car insurance members, marking the largest payout in the mutual insurance company’s 103-year history. The company attributed the decision to its strong financial position and improved underwriting performance, which it claims has been observed across the industry. Customers can anticipate receiving an average refund of $100, though the exact amount will vary by state and depend on the level of premiums paid. In addition to the dividend, State Farm reported a 10% reduction in premiums across 40 states, resulting in $4.6 billion in cost savings for policyholders. This trend reflects broader shifts in the auto insurance sector, where declining auto repair costs and a drop in accident frequency in 2025 have contributed to industry-wide improvements. However, despite these positive developments, car insurance premiums have surged, with rates rising over 50% in three years by early 2025. This marks the highest inflation rate for motor vehicle insurance in five decades, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Affordability has become a major concern for consumers, prompting many to actively seek better deals. A recent TransUnion report highlighted that insurance shopping has evolved into a regular activity for consumers, rather than an occasional action tied to car or home purchases. Patrick Foy, senior director of strategic planning for TransUnion’s insurance business, told CNBC that “regular insurance shopping is just the new normal.” The report linked this behavior to economic pressures driving households to cut expenses, while insurers increasingly invest in marketing and competitive pricing strategies.#berkshire_hathaway #state_farm #travelers #transunion #geico
Iran, Berkshire Hathaway earnings, OpenAI's Pentagon deal and more in Morning Squawk The weekend saw significant geopolitical developments as U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Iran’s leadership, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and multiple casualties among Iranian citizens. The operation, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury," triggered immediate retaliation from Iran and raised concerns about the potential for prolonged conflict. President Donald Trump vowed to "avenge" the deaths of three U.S. service members killed in the strikes, which he described as part of a military operation that was "ahead of schedule." He warned that the conflict could last up to four weeks and lead to further American casualties. The strikes also led to the closure of a large portion of the Middle East’s airspace, causing widespread flight cancellations and stranding travelers globally. U.S. crude oil prices surged in response, with investors speculating about the possibility of a 1970s-style energy crisis. Market reactions to the conflict were swift and severe. Stock futures fell sharply in premarket trading as investors grappled with the uncertainty surrounding the geopolitical situation. Gold futures rose as a safe-haven asset, while Wall Street’s fear gauge hit its highest levels of 2026. Energy and defense stocks, however, saw gains amid heightened concerns about supply chain disruptions and military spending. The broader market was already in a precarious position, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite posting their worst months in nearly a year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average managed a slight gain for February, marking its longest winning streak since 2018. Berkshire Hathaway’s recent financial performance highlighted ongoing challenges for the conglomerate.#iran #pentagon #berkshire_hathaway #openai #life_time
