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what companies does bill gates own

Bill Gates does not personally “own” most of the companies people associate with him; instead, he controls or holds large stakes through investment vehicles and his foundation.

Below is a clear breakdown.

1. The core company he founded

  • Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) – Gates co‑founded Microsoft in 1975 and built his fortune from it.
  • He no longer runs Microsoft and has sold or donated most of his original stake, but he still holds a meaningful number of shares, so he remains a significant shareholder rather than a controlling owner.

2. His main investment vehicle: Cascade Investment

  • Cascade Investment LLC – A private investment firm that manages Bill Gates’s wealth outside Microsoft.
  • Cascade holds big stakes in multiple industries, including hotels, rail, waste management, beverages, and more.

Some well‑known holdings linked to Gates via Cascade and related structures include:

  • Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts – Gates and Saudi prince Al‑Waleed bin Talal together control about 95% of the luxury hotel group after a multi‑billion‑dollar deal.
  • Canadian National Railway (CNR/CNI) – A major North American railway where the Gates orbit (Cascade/Foundation Trust) has owned a significant stake.
  • AutoNation – One of the largest automotive retailers in the U.S., with Gates-linked holdings through Cascade.

These are not 100% “Bill Gates companies” in the sense of full ownership, but he is one of the largest and most influential shareholders.

Mini HTML table – notable business stakes

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Company</th>
      <th>Type of link</th>
      <th>Industry</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Microsoft</td>
      <td>Co‑founder, large shareholder</td>
      <td>Software / Technology</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Cascade Investment LLC</td>
      <td>Personal investment vehicle (controlled by Gates)</td>
      <td>Investment holding</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts</td>
      <td>Majority ownership via Gates + partner</td>
      <td>Luxury hotels & resorts</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>AutoNation</td>
      <td>Large shareholder via Cascade</td>
      <td>Automotive retail</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Canadian National Railway</td>
      <td>Large shareholder via Cascade/Foundation</td>
      <td>Rail transport</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

3. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and its trust

There are two layers people often mix up:

  1. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – The charity that gives grants for global health, poverty reduction, and education.
  1. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust – The investment fund that holds assets to finance the foundation’s work.

The Trust owns large positions in public companies. Examples include:

  • Berkshire Hathaway – One of the biggest holdings; Warren Buffett donated a huge block of Berkshire shares to support the foundation.
  • Waste Management, Inc. – A top holding, with tens of millions of shares, reflecting his interest in environmental and waste services.
  • Caterpillar Inc. – Heavy machinery and equipment manufacturer, another major position.
  • UPS and FedEx – Both major logistics firms; Gates-linked entities hold significant stakes in each, likely a bet on global shipping and e‑commerce.
  • Walmart – Retail giant, a notable (though not controlling) holding in the trust portfolio.

Again, these are investments, not companies he fully owns or runs.

4. Other vehicles and ventures around Gates

  • Gates Ventures – Bill Gates’s “personal office,” often described as an investment and innovation lab that backs climate tech, health, and education projects.
  • He has also funded or co‑founded companies in nuclear energy (TerraPower) and other climate‑related technologies, typically as a lead investor rather than a sole owner.

In addition, Gates is known to own:

  • Large areas of farmland across the United States, held through various entities.
  • A mix of real estate, including high‑end residential properties and stakes in hospitality assets, usually through Cascade or related structures.

5. Quick narrative summary (story‑style)

If you think of Bill Gates’s business world as a constellation, Microsoft is the bright star where everything started. As his wealth grew, he moved much of that starlight into Cascade Investment , which quietly spreads his money across railroads, hotels, car dealerships, and more. Around that, the Gates Foundation Trust sits like a financial engine, holding chunks of Berkshire Hathaway, Waste Management, Walmart, UPS, FedEx, and other giants, and using the returns to fund vaccines, education projects, and climate work.

So when people ask “what companies does Bill Gates own,” the practical answer is: he directly controls Microsoft’s legacy, Cascade Investment, Gates Ventures, and big stakes in firms like Four Seasons, Canadian National Railway, AutoNation, and multiple blue‑chip stocks via the Foundation Trust—mostly as a powerful shareholder, not a sole proprietor.

TL;DR: He founded Microsoft, controls Cascade Investment and Gates Ventures, and through Cascade and the Gates Foundation Trust holds large stakes in companies such as Four Seasons, Canadian National Railway, AutoNation, Berkshire Hathaway, Waste Management, Walmart, UPS, FedEx, and others.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.