Bill Gates has built one of the most closely watched investment portfolios in the world. Managed through Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust and Cascade Investment LLC, his holdings reflect more than just wealth preservation. They are deliberate bets on companies solving real-world problems. His stock choices show a long-term mindset that goes beyond quarterly profits.
FedEx
Gates holds close to $300 million in FedEx, drawn to its ambitious shift toward electrification and AI logistics. The company is testing electric delivery vans, autonomous route optimization, and warehouse robotics.
As e-commerce grows and supply chains modernize, FedEx’s push toward efficient and lower emissions makes it a forward-looking logistics bet.
Microsoft
Microsoft remains the largest and most recognizable asset in Gates’ portfolio, with a stake worth over $10.7 billion. After a brief dip in early 2025, it rebounded thanks to growth in Azure, enterprise AI, and productivity tools.
With ChatGPT integrations and AI copilots across its platforms, Microsoft expects to earn over $13 billion annually from AI initiatives. Its leadership in cloud and artificial intelligence cements it as a core holding for Gates.
Caterpillar
Caterpillar makes up 5.8% of the portfolio, worth around $2.4 billion. Although the company reported modest revenue softness earlier this year, its stock price surged on news of long-term infrastructure contracts and product innovations.
Caterpillar is investing in electric and hydrogen-powered heavy equipment and automation for mining and construction. These innovations could give the industrial giant a first-mover advantage in a cleaner construction future.
Waste Management
Waste Management is Gates’ third-largest holding, valued at around $7.4 billion. The company has outpaced the S&P 500 in 2025, with strong earnings growth and dividends. It is heavily investing in methane capture, recycling automation, and converting waste to energy.
With its essential services and forward-looking environmental initiatives, WM fits squarely into Gates’ sustainability thesis.
Schrödinger
Schrödinger is one of Gates’ most futuristic plays. Though a small stake of around $20 million, the company uses AI and quantum physics to stimulate molecular behavior, potentially accelerating drug discovery by years.
It has partnerships with leading pharma firms and academic institutions. Gates’ stake reflects his interest in scalable scientific innovation and healthcare transformation.
Deere & Company
Deere, worth $1.7 billion in Gates’ portfolio, is reshaping agriculture with AI and autonomous machinery. The company’s precision farming tools and satellite-linked tractors help farmers reduce waste and maximize yield.
With food security and resource efficiency becoming more urgent global issues. Gates’ investment in Deere reflects confidence in long-term agri-tech disruption. The stock is up over 25% year to date.
Ecolab
Ecolab represents 3.2% of Gates’ portfolio, at $1.3 billion. The company delivers sanitation, water treatment, and hygiene solutions to hospitals, hotels, and factories. In 2025, it launched an AI-driven water efficiency platform and expanded its life sciences footprint.
Ecolab’s solutions address growing global concerns about water scarcity, food safety, and public health, critical areas in Gates’ philanthropic focus.
Berkshire Hathaway
Gates holds $9.1 billion in Berkshire Hathaway stock, nearly 22% of his portfolio. Though Q1 was low due to insurance losses and forex swings, Berkshire bounced back in Q2. Its wide-ranging holdings, from GEICO and BNSF to Coca-Cola and Apple, offer long-term resilience.
Gates’ decades-long connection with Warren Buffett reinforces his confidence in this foundational investment.
Crown Castle
Crown Castle, worth $147 million in Gates’ portfolio, owns thousands of cellular towers and miles of fiber infrastructure. These assets support the growth of 5G, IoT, and high-speed internet. As telecom companies expand their digital infrastructure, Crown Castle’s long-term contracts and recurring revenue offer predictable cash flow, making it a quiet but essential tech infrastructure play.
Canadian National Railway
The $5.3 billion stake reflects Gates’ faith in transportation infrastructure. Canadian National Railway has invested over $3.4 billion in 2025 to modernize locomotives and rail systems. With rail transport producing significantly fewer emissions than trucks, it’s also aligned with Gates’ environmental outlook. The stock has gained close to 6% this year, supported by healthy margins and steady cash flows.
Republic Services
Republic Services is another major holding, where Gates owns nearly 35% of the company. It is rapidly scaling landfill-to-energy facilities, converting methane into renewable natural gas (RNG). With steady revenue growth, a focus on automation, and regulatory support for clean energy, Republic blurs the lines between traditional waste management and green utility. It is a high-impact ESG investment with financial stability.
Apple
Gates does not directly hold Apple stock, but he benefits indirectly through his Berkshire Hathaway position. Apple makes up over 40% of Berkshire’s public stock portfolio. That gives Gates significant passive exposure to Apple’s continued innovation in health tech, wearables, and digital services, areas where he has a long-standing interest.
