Microsoft Corp. has experienced a significant boost in stock prices, with shares reaching a new record high this year. The company’s partnership with OpenAI and the broader artificial intelligence rally in the US stock market have contributed to this growth. As a result, former CEO Steve Ballmer has surpassed Bill Gates to become the sixth-richest person in the world.
Ballmer’s wealth is primarily derived from his Microsoft shares, which account for more than 90% of his $157.2 billion net worth. In contrast, Bill Gates, who co-founded Microsoft and led the company until 2000, has diversified his fortune through various investments. Half of his $156.7 billion wealth is held through Cascade Investment, created with proceeds from Microsoft stock sales and dividends, and he also has a $21 billion stake in waste-management company Republic Services Inc.
Gates has been gradually reducing his fortune through philanthropy, establishing the $75 billion Gates Foundation with his ex-wife Melinda French Gates and Warren Buffett. The Foundation is one of the largest charitable organizations in the world, and since its inception, Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates have donated nearly $60 billion from their personal fortunes. Recently, Melinda French Gates stepped down as co-chair of the foundation and received $12.5 billion for her own charitable purposes.
Overall, Microsoft’s success and Ballmer’s rise to prominence reflect how rapidly technology continues to evolve and shape our lives today.
