Microsoft's founder, Bill Gates, is no longer the company's biggest shareholder. Steve Ballmer, who left the position of CEO just last February, now holds the informal title.
According to his report Bloomberg, Bill Gates sold 30 million shares on April 4,6, now holding 330,1 millions shares, thus "letting" Ballmer overtake him with his 333,2 shares.
Bill Gates founded Microsoft, along with Paul Allen, 1975, but after leaving the position of managing director, 2000 sells a significant share of its shares each year. After all, it is known that Gates and his wife Melinda, after 2000, have turned to charity through the foundation they have set up for this purpose.
Although Microsoft co-founder will not abandon his charitable work, he will spend some of his time at Microsoft, acting as a special advisor, at the side of current CEO, Satya Nandela.
Steve Ballmer, 58 years ago, was Microsoft's No 30 employee, joining 1980's potential after Bill Gates persuaded him to quit Stanford University School of Economics. Since then, he has worked for the company until 2000 succeeded Gates as CEO.
He retired from his post last February, following the selection of Satya Nandela, while retaining his position on the Board of Directors. The "collection" of shares by Ballmer launched 1986, that is, Microsoft's initial public offer. The value of Ballmer's shares is, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, in 18,8 billions of dollars.
It is worth mentioning that there are some with a larger portfolio in Microsoft's shareholding, but the difference is that they are not natural persons. These are the investment groups Vanguard Group (372,6 million shares) and State Street (343 million shares).
According to market analysts, the fact that Gates is no longer the man with the most shares in Microsoft is purely symbolic, as it expresses the essential "change of guard" in the company.
Source: naftemporiki.gr
