Following the high-profile divorce of Bill and Melinda Gates, a shift in their fortunes has been observed, with Bill dropping to the fifth position on the Forbes billionaires list, while Melinda's wealth has seen an increase to an estimated $5.6 billion.
The repercussions of the divorce continue for Bill Gates, as not only did he lose his fourth position on the Forbes billionaires list, but his fortune also decreased to $129.6 billion. This places him behind Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, who holds the fourth spot with a wealth of $130 billion.
The recent wealth realignment is attributed to a series of stock transfers from Bill to Melinda, conducted through Cascade Investment LLC. Last week's transfer of approximately $2.4 billion in shares further contributed to this shift in financial standings.
The divorce, finalized last week, has prompted an ongoing division of assets between the ex-spouses. Bill Gates previously transferred $3.2 billion in shares to Melinda shortly after announcing their separation in May. This recent transaction included 3.3 million AutoNation shares valued at around $392 million, granting Melinda an 8.8% ownership stake in the auto retailer.
Additional transfers comprised 2.8 million shares of Deere & Co. (an agricultural equipment manufacturer) and 9.5 million shares of Canadian National Railway Co., collectively valued at approximately $2 billion. The total assets Melinda will receive remain undisclosed, as private holdings and real estate may be part of the settlement, not requiring public disclosure.
The intricacies of the division of the Gates' substantial fortune are outlined in a non-public separation agreement signed before the divorce announcement. Despite their separation, Bill and Melinda have committed to continuing their collaborative efforts at the Gates Foundation, with Melinda agreeing to resign in two years if collaborative work becomes untenable.
