Did Bill Gates sell all his Microsoft stock? No, absolutely not. The stock was sold by the Gates Foundation. But what many people don't know is that the foundation's holdings were donated by Bill Gates for philanthropic purposes. According to FactSet data, Bill Gates' personal stock holdings are still worth $43 billion. This sale of all the stock is for philanthropy and a comprehensive strategic transformation. Gates mentioned last year that a highly concentrated stock portfolio is not conducive to rapid monetization and demanded an increase in the amount and speed of the foundation's charitable donations. It's not that Bill Gates is bearish on Microsoft; in fact, Wall Street figures like Ackman and Whale Rock increased their holdings in the first quarter. Sometimes you really can't be misled by rumors.