$1,000 invested in Microsoft stock when Bill Gates Foundation cleared MSFT position is now worth

Microsoft shares rallied 3.11% after quarterly earnings, erasing the stock’s 2026 losses and turning the year positive by early August. The article frames this move as damaging hindsight for the Gates Foundation, which fully exited its Microsoft position in Q1 2026 amid a price range of $356.77 to $483.47 and an average price of $435.22. Had the foundation waited until the early-August rebound, it may have realized up to $1 billion more in proceeds. For investors, the piece highlights that a $1,000 purchase near the quarter’s low would now be worth $1,366.85, underscoring how quickly sentiment reversed after earnings. The story also notes the Gates Foundation has been selling Microsoft since late 2023 and that the divestment likely reflects its long-term 2045 sunset plan rather than market timing.