Bill Gates Transfers Nearly $2.4 Billion Worth of Stock to Melinda Gates Amid Divorce
Bill Gates transferred stakes in a Coca-Cola bottler, Mexican broadcaster and other companies worth nearly $2.4 billion to Melinda Gates, as two of the world’s richest people began dividing their wealth after filing for divorce.
The transfers were made on Monday, the same day the billionaire philanthropists revealed on Twitter that they were ending their marriage of 27 years. The stock transfers were disclosed in securities filings on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Ms. Gates is now one of the largest shareholders in two Mexican companies: bottler Coca-Cola Femsa SAB and Grupo Televisa SA, a cable company and broadcaster, according to disclosures filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Her 4.9% stake in Coca-Cola Femsa was worth about $121 million at Wednesday’s close, while her 6.7% Televisa stake was worth about $386 million.
Mr. Gates also transferred to his wife some of his holdings in Canadian National Railway Co. and AutoNation Inc., the biggest owner of U.S. car dealerships, according to other SEC filings. The railway stake, about 1.9% of the company, was valued at $1.55 billion at Wednesday’s closing price; the AutoNation shares, about 3.7% of the company, were worth about $307 million.
