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Silly article. Lots of talk about big numbers. Keep in mind a billion doesn't necessarily buy you the same as it did when Microsoft started. So large part of these numbers is just due to inflation. Also taxes will take a huge chunk. And what would happen to MS stock if he actually started to dump a bunch of it? It would tank and he'd never realize all those gains.

Yes, I'm jealous.

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It's a billion in dividends, not just portfolio growth. So it's a check for a billion bucks, with a special 20% tax rate. I couldn't care less about how much money somebody else has, but the inequity in tax rates is quite irritating.

An online source says that Microsoft has an effective 19% tax rate on its earnings, and dividends are paid from post-tax earnings. The argument for a lower rate on dividends is the avoidance of double taxation.

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