Bill Gates Divests All His Bud Light Shares, Calls It ‘A Mistake’

In a twist straight out of a modern-day soap opera, Bill Gates, a titan of the tech world and known for his strategic investments, made an uncharacteristic U-turn.

The billionaire philanthropist, after recently acquiring a substantial chunk of Anheuser-Busch InBev (the makers of Bud Light), made headlines yet again by selling all of his Bud Light stocks, branding his purchase as a ‘mistake’.

Bill Gates, whose net worth is estimated at a whopping $111.2 billion according to Forbes, has always been seen as a calculated and forward-thinking investor. His decision to invest in Anheuser-Busch InBev was initially regarded as a vote of confidence for the beer giant that had seen a tumultuous year. But what could have possibly spurred this sudden reversal?

The past few months have been anything but smooth sailing for Anheuser-Busch, primarily due to a controversial marketing campaign that caused a rift among its audience. Bud Light collaborated with transgender TikTok star, Dylan Mulvaney, for an ad campaign. The partnership, unveiled on April 1st, triggered a massive conservative backlash. High-profile names like Kid Rock went so far as to call for a boycott, resulting in plummeting sales numbers for the iconic beer brand.

In the immediate aftermath, Bud Light, previously America’s top-selling beer, reported a 23% dip in May sales compared to the prior year. By June, this number had grown to a 28% decline. The ramifications were evident, as Bud Light was dethroned by Modelo Especial from the coveted No. 1 spot.