Bill Gates: philanthropist, nerd, beer baron

Being the shrewd businessman that he is, Bill Gates has just invested a significant amount of money in one of the few products consumed during both good times and bad: alcohol. Actually Femsa, the Mexican brewery in which Gates now owns a $392 million stake through his Cascade Investment LLC fund, does a lot more than just brew booze: according to Reuters, it's also the world's second-largest Coke bottler as well as operator of Oxxo, Latin America's largest convenience store chain. When asked how he felt about the Microsoft founder moving in on his home turf, fellow billionaire Carlos Slim reportedly shrugged off the threat, boasting, "Not only am I a wealthier man than Mr. Gates, but he couldn't even make it through half a Power Hour with his nueva cerveza."

[Frank @ Dec 21st 2007 1:44PM]

Did he really say that? I hope so.

[Phi Nguyen @ Dec 21st 2007 2:01PM]

Wow, them's fightin' words.

[Andrew @ Dec 21st 2007 3:29PM]

You gotta diversify yo bonds. -Wu Tang Clan

[Shermie @ Dec 21st 2007 4:58PM]

Did anyone notice that they don't own Bud... they own Miller. Might want to change the picture. I suppose not too many of you know about things that don't require electricity.

[Dylan K @ Dec 21st 2007 1:44PM]

Well your website certainly isn't.

[Dylan K @ Dec 21st 2007 1:49PM]

The post I replied to was deleted, so, move along.

[Flashpoint @ Dec 21st 2007 1:44PM]

I like Bill Gates more than Steve Jobs. Jobs just sued a kid because he made a website where he was releasing APPLE's new product line before they got it on the market LOL.

[Zak @ Dec 21st 2007 1:52PM]

Yes, Apple should definitely not be trying to protect their trade secrets. That's what makes Apple such a horrible company. Those bastards! how dare they! Good thing Microsoft would never stoop so low as to sue somebody, because Microsoft is one of the last bastions of pure hearted goodness left in the world, am I right? Of course I am.

[I.E @ Dec 21st 2007 1:53PM]

talk about going off-topic. if only bill liked you too. sadly bill prob doesn't know you exist.

[justin @ Dec 21st 2007 2:13PM]

This brings me back to the time when I was planning a huge birthday surprise for my mom and she was anxious to find out what I had planned because she knew something was coming, but she didn't know what.

My Stepfather (out of jealousy or idiocy, i don't know) found out what I was doing through my little brother and decided to "leak" what I had planned and pretty much deflated the shock and initial serendipity of the reception of her spa weekend. What Step-Dad did was a dick move. And if I could sue him, I would!

In the context of Apple vs. ThinkSecret, it's quite simple. Apple releases these products to control their stocks and match the best possible outcome for their financial forecast. If someone leaks the info, I'm getting in the ass for snitching my precious details and causing an earlier spike with my stock than I wanted it.

Even worse is when Apple didn't plan on introducing the product and TS would report and say the product is coming. When other products are introduced people are suddenly disappointed despite the top shelf product offerings. ThinkSecret perfected the dick move.

[Ellianth @ Dec 21st 2007 2:45PM]

@Justin.

Don't you live in America? (if yes scroll down to line 982)


...
line 981: blah blah blah
line 982: People sue for a lot less in your country...
...

[Boolai @ Dec 21st 2007 1:46PM]

For all things holy!!!! Latin and decent. NO!!!NO!!!NO!!!. Not Bill The geek Gates. Someone please shoot this man.

[eugene @ Dec 21st 2007 2:06PM]

yeah.. cuz you know, he only brought computing to the masses and then forced a unified driver architecture on all the hardware manufacturers to make it easier on consumers.

Oh, and he only donates BILLIONS to charity, helping the poor and underprivilleged and the needy. And uses his incredible wealth and influence to bring attention things like sustainable agriculture and education to impvorished nations.

Yeah, he definitely deserves to be "shot" for those things.

[Andir3.0 @ Dec 21st 2007 2:29PM]

"And uses his incredible wealth and influence to bring attention things like himself."

There, fixed it for you.

[zabador @ Dec 21st 2007 1:56PM]

I'll catch you one day beer barron...

Gates: No you won't!

Yes I will...

Gates: Won't!

[Chuck @ Dec 21st 2007 2:12PM]

Nice. You read my mind.

[Kris S. @ Dec 21st 2007 2:13PM]

I'm going for Gates, Gates > Slim.

[Fernando @ Dec 21st 2007 3:50PM]

Wgat? Slim totally pwns Gates!

[Jimmy Jones @ Dec 21st 2007 2:16PM]

Not an apple fan but M$ sued a guy who had a site named Mikerowiesoft.com or something of that nature in the past year or so....but his site was personal and not trading any secrets of el-billy...

Carlos really thinks he's got something going on for him huh? I don't think he knows that el-billy has been in the game before he came on top so the big dawgs step down for him to shine a bit... but bill beats him anyday in shares, endowment and such...so Carlos can just sit and tag along....maybe he can shine on pple like el-jobso...

[Superevil @ Dec 21st 2007 3:14PM]

It was a warez site amd it was called mikerosoft.com

[Andrew @ Dec 21st 2007 4:11PM]

No, there was another one where a guy (Mike Rowe) had a personal site (mikerowesoft.com). By coincidence I think he was a software developer for some company, but didn't release any software on his site. Microsoft went after him saying the name sounded similar and consumers could get confused.

If I remember correctly, Microsoft settled out of court or lost the case, but they certainly didn't get their ideal outcome.

[bfellow @ Jun 25th 2008 5:55AM]

It was a kid that owned the domain name. Microsoft never filed a lawsuit either. They got ahold of the kid, and in exchange for for the domain gave him a bunch of software plus vouchers to get training in Microsoft technologies.

Post if you know what you're talking about please.

[unsigned @ Dec 21st 2007 2:20PM]

And here I thought the news was going to be about Carlos Slim throwing a chair. Instead he boasted about a larger stack of green. Its kinda like the e-penor arguments about who has the fastest processor, albeit on a slightly larger scale.

[Aaron @ Dec 21st 2007 2:21PM]

Does this mean that when I ask for a bud, I'll have to agree to a EULA before drinking it.
Will that beer actually be mine or will I just have it on lease?
Will there be a product key or a patch Tuesday?

Scary mental image: the potential for an MS version of packaging for the beer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeXAcwriid0

[Andy @ Dec 21st 2007 2:27PM]

Homer: To Alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.

[Alber1690 @ Dec 21st 2007 2:28PM]

As a Mexican, I am ashamed of Carlos Slim.
As an American, I am proud of Bill Gates.

One gives. One steals. Easy to pick the better.

[Joshua @ Dec 21st 2007 3:01PM]

dude i totally agree with you,,,

[Matthew Hilario @ Dec 21st 2007 3:29PM]

what do you call a mexican who lost his car?
carlos

what do you call a mexican who lost his beer business?
carlos

[jason51873 @ Dec 21st 2007 2:34PM]

My favorite part about all this is that the "richest man in the world" lives in one of the poorest countries. Kinda tells you something about the government there now don't it. 1 man making up 8% of the whole countries entire net worth - pathetic!

LONG LIVE MEXICO....'s government!

And we wonder why they come to the US (as crappy as our government is).

[rodsky @ Dec 21st 2007 3:07PM]

Mexico is definitely on its way up, that dollar sure isnt

[fmg00 @ Dec 21st 2007 3:01PM]

Your government has a lot of responsibility of everything that happens in Mexico, it's called interventionism and they have been doing it for ages...

[BigD145 @ Dec 21st 2007 3:14PM]

Well done Bill. Coke currently has one of the worst human rights records or any company. I'm so glad to see you working with a piece of that company. Who will you buy into next, the revamped, but still the same, Halliburton?

[abubba @ Dec 21st 2007 3:17PM]

yo carlos slim wutever The only reason you are richer then bill gates becasue unlike you cheap ass bill gates gave most of his money to charity unlike your cheap ass. if he had kept that money you will never be rich like him. WE LOVE YOU BILL but fix vistas bugs.

[Manuel Anaya @ Dec 21st 2007 3:25PM]

Dude,

Bill didn't give most of his money to charity, that one was Mr. Buffet. All rich guys give charity by doing that they have economic/tax advantages. Mr. Slim profits are for well invested money, communications!, and yeah... i think if Gates invested more on getting vista to work, they have more profit and then give more money to charity!... And the world will be just fine.

[John @ Dec 21st 2007 3:50PM]

actually, Slim's profits are from monopolizing the telecommunications market in mexico, which the Mexican government didn't care about and couldn't do anything about if they did. As to why this has given him more cash than Gates, it's because Gates donated enough money to charity that it put him behind Slim.

This is called portfolio diversification, and until Gates starts up a Mexican telco company, there's no muscling in other than what Slim does to his erstwhile competitors.

[John @ Dec 21st 2007 3:51PM]

actually, Slim's profits are from monopolizing the telecommunications market in mexico, which the Mexican government didn't care about and couldn't do anything about if they did. As to why this has given him more cash than Gates, it's because Gates donated enough money to charity that it put him behind Slim.

This is called portfolio diversification, and until Gates starts up a Mexican telco company, there's no muscling in other than what Slim does to his erstwhile 'competitors'.

[Reader @ Dec 21st 2007 3:52PM]

Gates gave over 29 billion in the last 7 years. That
s quit a bit more than what tax cuts cover. Yes rich people give money away for tax cuts, but Bill Gates really is a philanthropist and does way more than that.

Carlos can't boast at all; if Gates didn't give away so much money he would still be number 1.

[ajadoniz @ Dec 21st 2007 9:00PM]

how about you do some research before you post something. Mr. Slim has started a $10 billion foundation for his philanthropy. And yes, he has given money to other orgs for grants etc throughout his rich life. You can argue who donates the most... but in the end it's philanthropy.

[Jacob Kennedy @ Dec 21st 2007 4:00PM]

Completely off topic: how do you get the avatars to display beside your posts?

[Reader @ Dec 21st 2007 4:05PM]

Your profile already has an avatar it looks like. So just wait a few minutes and it should show up.

[Jacob Kennedy @ Dec 21st 2007 4:12PM]

Thanks. Just need a little more time to be intimate with the canine to find it.

[Mr Deeds @ Dec 21st 2007 4:11PM]

Ok, so for that amount of money he could have possibly made Marijuana legal for the U.S., and all wife beating would have come to an abrupt end... I don't want to be any reason for marijuana becoming legal, but if Alcohol is...me might as well make anything legal...and of course have someone come in and spend 400 million to support it...

[JoeT @ Dec 21st 2007 4:36PM]

who wants to bet buffet gave bill some investing advice?

[Ethan @ Dec 21st 2007 4:40PM]

Bill Gates could've been a lot richer and is a heck more influential and powerful than Carlos.

[xchekox @ Dec 21st 2007 4:46PM]

1.- Mexico is not one of the poorest countries.. is the 2nd Richest in Latin America and the 11th economy worldwide... Rememeber.. Mexico is definitely not just illegal immigrants.. Those are just a tiny part of a great growing country...

2.- Gates bought a tiny parto fo Femsa... They make beers like Sol, Indio, XX lager... and several others.. Not Budweiser..

Cheers...

[xchekox @ Dec 21st 2007 4:48PM]

and 3.- Bill Gates owns 5% of largest Spanish speaking TV, radio, cable, communications company... Televisa.. Which Slim owns a tiny equivalent part..

[ajadoniz @ Dec 21st 2007 8:51PM]

good to see someone who doesn't just talk out of their ass.

[tumble @ Dec 21st 2007 4:48PM]

Well, I hope that means he is gonna get the buggy air-time selling software OXXO uses fixed. What's the point of selling electronic recharges if the system is pretty much always down. That, and the app that registers the sales is still text only, I am almost certain that OXXO is the only chain in the country to still have text based, DOS looking software on their stores.

[darkn @ Dec 21st 2007 5:54PM]

So will the beer now have faulty activation software?

[David @ Dec 21st 2007 7:20PM]

Common Gates lets pound a a few down the hatch for old times sake.