The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation tax return was e-filed with the Internal Revenue Service. The tax return and accompanying attachments posted on our website are presented as a view of the electronically filed data.

Please note for ease of navigating the tax return we have bookmarked the various sections of the return.

efile GRAPHIC print - DO NOT PROCESS

ORIGINAL DATA -

EIN: 562618866

OMB No. 1545-0052

Return of Private Foundation

or Section 4947(a)(1) Nonexempt Charitable Trust
Treated as a Private Foundation

Form

990-PF

2007

Note: The foundation may be able to use a copy of this return to satisfy state reporting requirements.

Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service

For calendar year 2007 , or tax year beginning 01-01-2007 and ending 12-31-2007

G

• Check all that apply:
• Initial return
• Final return
• Amended return
• Address change
• Name change

A Employer identification number

Name of foundation

Use the IRS label.

BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION
56-2618866

Otherwise, print or type.

B Telephone number (see page 10 of the instructions)
Room/

suite
Number and street (or P.O. box number if mail is not delivered to street address)
1551 EASTLAKE AVENUE EAST
(206) 709-3100

See Specific Instructions.

C If exemption application is pending, check here
City or town, state, and ZIP code

SEATTLE, WA 98102
D 1. Foreign organizations, check here .

2. Foreign organizations meeting the 85% test, check here and attach computation

• H Check type of organization:
• Section 501(c)(3) exempt private foundation

• Section 4947(a)(1) nonexempt charitable trust
• Other taxable private foundation

Cash Accrual

EF

If private foundation status was terminated under section 507(b)(1)(A), check here

J Accounting method:

Other (specify)

(Part I, column (d) must be on cash basis.)

I Fair market value of all assets at end

of year (from Part II, col. (c),

If the foundation is in a 60-month termination under section 507(b)(1)(B), check here

line 16)

$

38,837,820,007

(d) Disbursements

for charitable purposes

Part I

Analysis of Revenue and Expenses (The total

of amounts in columns (b), (c), and (d) may not necessarily equal the amounts in column (a) (see page 11 of the instructions).)

(a) Revenue and

expenses per books

• (b) Net investment
• (c) Adjusted net

• income
• income

(cash basis only)

2,327,493,095

12

Contributions, gifts, grants, etc., received (attach schedule) Check if the foundation is not required to attach Sch. B

794,161 438,307
-7,779
794,161 438,307
00

Interest on savings and temporary cash investments

3

Dividends and interest from securities Gross rents Net rental income or (loss)

..
..
..
..
..
..
4

• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .

5a

b

-120,818

Net gain or (loss) from sale of assets not on line 10

Gross sales price for all assets on line 6a

6a b

0

Capital gain net income (from Part IV, line 2)

...
...
...
7

Net short-term capital gain Income modifications

..
..
..
..
..
..
8

• .
• .

9

10a b

Gross sales less returns and allowances

Less: Cost of goods sold

• .
• .
• .
• .

Gross profit or (loss) (attach schedule)

..
..
..
..
..c

• 1,500,438
• 1,409,069

2,641,537
00

Other income (attach schedule)

..
..
11

2,330,218,222
2,911,479
51,717,783 16,972,774
2,059,208
248,600

• Total. Add lines 1 through 11
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .

12

13 14 15 16a b

2,900,189
49,483,466 16,472,005
2,177,743
248,600

Compensation of officers, directors, trustees, etc. Other employee salaries and wages Pension plans, employee benefits

....
....
....
....
....
....
...

00
00

Legal fees (attach schedule)

• .
• .

Accounting fees (attach schedule)

• 124,146,643
• 0
• 0

0
115,103,091
228,294

Other professional fees (attach schedule) Interest

..
..
..
..c

• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .

17

18

• 321,354
• 74,156

Taxes (attach schedule) (see page 14 of the instructions)

3,662,573

Depreciation (attach schedule) and depletion

• .
• .
• .

19

13,317,075 23,804,733
584,873

• 559,125
• 12,237,820

23,694,932
1,020,216
23,198,644

Occupancy Travel, conferences, and meetings Printing and publications Other expenses (attach schedule)

• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .

...
....
....
....
....
....
....
20 21 22 23

• .
• .
• .

• 23,919,204
• 0
• 0

FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

• Total operating and administrative expenses.
• 24

263,666,299
3,048,299,105 3,311,965,404
633,281 633,281
00
246,765,000
2,011,456,496 2,258,221,496

Add lines 13 through 23

• .
• .
• .

.
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

Contributions, gifts, grants paid

25 26

Total expenses and disbursements. Add lines 24 and 25

27 a

Subtract line 26 from line 12:

-981,747,182

Excess of revenue over expenses and disbursements

2,008,256

Net investment income (if negative, enter -0-) b

c

0

• Adjusted net income (if negative, enter -0-)
• .
• .
• .

For Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the instructions.

Cat. No. 11289X

Form 990-PF (2007)

FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE

Form 990-PF (2007)

Page 2

• Beginning of year
• End of year

Attached schedules and amounts in the description column

should be for end-of-year amounts only. (See instructions.)

Balance Sheets

Part II

• (a) Book Value
• (b) Book Value

427,483

(c) Fair Market Value

• 100
• 427,483

Cash—non-interest-bearing .

• .
• .
• .
• .
• .

.
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
123

5,524,412
0

• 9,517,454
• 9,517,454

249,840

Savings and temporary cash investments

249,840

Accounts receivable

0
249,840

Less: allowance for doubtful accounts Pledges receivable

4

Less: allowance for doubtful accounts Grants receivable

• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .

.
..
..
..
..
56

Receivables due from officers, directors, trustees, and other disqualified persons (attach schedule) (see page 16 of the

• instructions).
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .

Other notes and loans receivable (attach schedule) Less: allowance for doubtful accounts

7

Inventories for sale or use

• .
• .
• .
• .
• .

.
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
89

• 327,042
• 1,589,790
• 1,589,790

Prepaid expenses and deferred charges Investments—U.S. and state government obligations (attach schedule)

10a b

Investments—corporate stock (attach schedule) Investments—corporate bonds (attach schedule)

..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..c

43,634,081
0

Investments—land, buildings, and equipment: basis Less: accumulated depreciation (attach schedule)

11

• 11,157,821
• 43,634,081
• 43,634,081

Investments—mortgage loans

• .
• .
• .
• .

.
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
12 13 14

• 29,564,176,183
• 38,652,975,969
• 38,652,975,969

Investments—other (attach schedule) Land, buildings, and equipment: basis

140,320,775

• 41,406,979
• 43,349,460

30,005,792
98,913,796 30,511,594
98,913,796 30,511,594

Less: accumulated depreciation (attach schedule) Other assets (describe

15 16

)
Total assets (to be completed by all filers—see page 17 of

• 29,654,540,810
• 38,837,820,007

54,219,616
38,837,820,007

the instructions. Also, see page 1, item I)

2,025,262
0

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
17 18 19 20 21 22

4,423,063,100

• Grants payable .
• .

.
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

Deferred revenue Loans from officers, directors, trustees, and other disqualified persons Mortgages and other notes payable (attach schedule) Other liabilities (describe

• .
• .
• .
• .
• .

.
..

)

• 2,025,262
• 4,477,282,716

34,360,537,291

• 23
• Total liabilities (add lines 17 through 22)

Foundations that follow SFAS 117, check here and complete lines 24 through 26 and lines 30 and 31.

• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .
• .

29,652,515,548

Unrestricted .

Temporarily restricted Permanently restricted

• .
• .
• .
• .

..
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
24 25 26
Foundations that do not follow SFAS 117, check here and complete lines 27 through 31.

Capital stock, trust principal, or current funds