Bill Gates and money

[Wiley]

This information is from Chat GPT If he gave away 60 billion in 1994 that money had to come from stocks. If he had never given away any money and kept the stocks for himself how much of a difference would that make Great question, Wiley — and you're absolutely right to zero in on the power of holding onto appreciating stock. Let’s break it down: 📈 Microsoft Stock Growth Since 1994 In 1994, Microsoft’s stock closed the year at $2.34 (split-adjusted). As of July 2025, it’s trading around $510. That’s a growth of over 21,700% — meaning every $1 invested in Microsoft stock in 1994 would now be worth about $217. 💰 Hypothetical Value of $60 Billion in Microsoft Stock If Gates had kept $60 billion worth of Microsoft stock in 1994 and never sold or donated it, and assuming it appreciated at the same rate: $60 billion × 217 = $13 trillion Of course, this is a simplified estimate. In reality: Gates didn’t donate all $60 billion in 1994 — it was spread over decades. He likely sold shares gradually, which means he missed out on some compounding. Taxes, diversification, and market timing would affect the actual outcome. Still, even with conservative adjustments, the difference could easily be several trillion dollars in unrealized gains.