Bill Gates makes largest donation of Microsoft stocks since 2000

Tycoon Bill Gates has made his largest gift since the turn of the century, giving away Microsoft Corp shares that accounted for 5 per cent of his fortune, the world's biggest.

The billionaire donated 64 million of the software maker's shares valued at US$4.6 billion (S$6.26 billion) on June 6, according to a Securities & Exchange Commission filing released Monday. 

While the recipient of the gift was not specified, Mr Gates has made the majority of his donations to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the charity he and his wife use to direct their philanthropic efforts.

It's the largest gift Gates has made since 2000. The 61-year-old gave away $16bn of Microsoft shares in 1999 and $5.1bn a year later. Spokesmen for Microsoft and Gates didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Bill and Melinda Gates have given away about $35bn since 1994, based on the value of the shares at the time of gifts, according to a review of two decades worth of Gates Foundation tax returns, annual reports and regulatory filings.

Gates has probably directed more than 700 million shares of Microsoft into the foundation, adjusting for stock splits. Those would be worth about $50bn today had he held onto them. The June gift represents 38pc of his holdings in the company and is the latest in a long line of Microsoft share disposals that have whittled his stake down from 24pc in 1996 to 1.3pc today.