Bill Gates Became $2 Billion Richer Today The fourth richest man in the world had a banner day on Wall Street as Microsoft's shares surged.

By Jonathan Small

How's this for passive income? Bill Gates, who is already worth $122 billion, raked in $2 billion today just for watching Microsoft's stock soar 7.2% in a Wednesday rally.

Marketwatch reports that Gates had a banner day on Wall Street, as Microsoft's shares increased by $19.95 to $295.37, the company's largest single-day gain in 52 weeks. Gates is Microsoft's largest investor, owning around 103 million shares, which adds up to a little over 1% of the company. Not too shabby — considering Microsoft has a market cap of $2.2 trillion.

Financial analysts said Microsoft benefited today from better-than-average quarterly earnings. Wall Street is also enthusiastic about its AI offerings.

Today's news was not only good for Gates but for investors in general, as Wall Street rallied from its worst day in a month.

Still, Gates will need quite a few more days like this before he even gets close to the world's richest man Bernard Arnault, who is worth over $200 billion.

Related: 'The Age of AI Has Begun': Bill Gates Says This 'Revolutionary' Tech Is the Biggest Innovation Since the User-Friendly Computer

Jonathan Small

Entrepreneur Staff

Founder, Strike Fire Productions

Jonathan Small is a bestselling author, journalist, producer, and podcast host. For 25 years, he has worked as a sought-after storyteller for top media companies such as The New York Times, Hearst, Entrepreneur, and Condé Nast. He has held executive roles at Glamour, Fitness, and Entrepreneur and regularly contributes to The New York Times, TV Guide, Cosmo, Details, Maxim, and Good Housekeeping. He is the former “Jake” advice columnist for Glamour magazine and the “Guy Guru” at Cosmo.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

You Can Get Paid $18,000 More a Year By Adding AI Skills to Your Resume, According to a New Study

Employers are emphasizing AI skills — and are willing to pay a lot more if you have them.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Leadership

The Difference Between Entrepreneurs Who Survive Crises and Those Who Don't

In a business world accelerated by AI, visibility alone is fragile. Here's how strategic silence and consistency can turn reputation into your most powerful asset.

Leadership

7 Steps to De-Risking Big Business Decisions Before They Backfire

When the stakes are high, these seven steps can help you avoid costly mistakes, eliminate bias and make smarter decisions that actually scale.

Business News

United Airlines Says It Is Adding Extra Flights in Case Spirit 'Suddenly Goes Out of Business'

Rival airlines, including United and Frontier, are adding new routes as Spirit cuts 12 cities from its schedule.

Employee Experience & Recruiting

Here's the Real Reason Your Employees Are Checked Out — And the Missing Link That Could Fix It

Most disengaged employees aren't exhausted — they're disconnected, and storytelling may be the key to rebuilding that connection.