$8.7 Billion Question: Is the Gates Foundation's 65% Microsoft Stock Dump a Liquidity Play, or a Cautious Signal on AI-Fueled Big Tech Valuation?
In the world of high-stakes finance, few moves grab headlines quite like a billionaire founder offloading chunks of his own creation. Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder turned global philanthropist, just made waves by having his foundation slash its Microsoft holdings by nearly 65 percent. We're talking about 17 million shares sold off in the third quarter of 2025 alone, raking in roughly $8.7 billion at average prices around $509 per share. This isn't some minor trim, it's a seismic shift that dropped Microsoft's spot from the foundation's top holding to fourth place, shrinking the position from $13.9 billion to about $4.76 billion. But why now? Microsoft stock has been on a tear, fueled by its deep dive into artificial intelligence through partnerships like OpenAI and tools like Copilot. The company's market cap hovers near $3.5 trillion, making it one of the world's most valuable firms. So, is this a straightforward cash grab to fund the Gates Foundati...