As per an SEC filing, it has been revealed that Bill Gates & Melinda Foundation bought 501,044 Apple shares in the first quarter of 2020.
Bill Gates Foundation Buys Apple Shares
Apple had dropped around 15% in the first quarter of 2020, so if Bill Gates Foundation bought the shares at the right time, it would have earned a profit by now, as the shares gained 25% value in the second quarter.
As per Smarter Analyst:
In the first three months of the year, the Gates Foundation Trust bought up 501,044 in Apple shares, according to an SEC filing. The iPhone maker’s stock, which dropped 15% in the first quarter, has since been on a recovery path, appreciating some 25% to trade at $318.89 as of Friday’s close.
Although Bill Gates was the founder of Microsoft, Apple’s fierce competitor, he never let that stand in the way of good business investments. Microsoft has popularly invested $150 million in Apple, in the late 90s, which helped the company get back on its feet under Steve Jobs’ leadership.
Apple is not the only company in which Bill Gates opened new positions though. The foundation also opened positions in Amazon and Twitter, and reduced its investments in Berkshire Hathaway, owned by Warren Buffet. It’s investments in Amazon have been the most profitable as the company’s shares have gained 45% value since mid-March.
The foundation works to reduce inequities around the world. In the developing world, it focuses on improving health and alleviating extreme poverty. In the United States, the foundation supports programs related to education. In its local region, the foundation promotes strategies and programs that help low income families. The foundation is based in Seattle, Washington, with regional offices in Washington, D.C., New Delhi, India, Beijing, China and London, United Kingdom. Its trustees are Bill and Melinda Gates, and Warren Buffett.
Post-Microsoft, Bill Gates has been active as one of the best-known philanthropists in the world. Bill Gates & Melinda Foundation is the largest private foundation of its kind in the world, and it holds assets worth $51 billion. The charitable foundation donates heavily towards global heath, poverty and education. Its grants and donations range in billions of dollars every year. Pertaining to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation has pledged $300 million to fight coronavirus so far.
Bill Gates had been vocal about the world not being ready to face a pandemic, as far back as 2015. He recently made an appearance in the Netflix documentary Coronavirus Explained to talk about the pandemic and is actively involved in finding a cure.
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