Who is the largest shareholder of Ecolab?

The largest shareholder of Ecolab is Bill Gates through his private investment firm Cascade Investment LLC, which holds approximately 25 to 26 percent of Ecolab's outstanding shares, making him the largest individual shareholder and largest overall shareholder. As of SEC filings in 2023 and 2024, Cascade Investment owned about 72 million shares of Ecolab, valued at over 12 to 15 billion dollars depending on stock price, which trades around 180 to 230 dollars per share. Bill Gates began accumulating Ecolab shares in early 2010s and increased stake over time because Ecolab's focus on water conservation and hygiene aligns with his interests in sustainability. Other large shareholders include institutional investors like The Vanguard Group, which owns about 9 to 10 percent, BlackRock with about 7 to 8 percent, and State Street Corporation with about 4 to 5 percent, as part of index funds. However, none of these individually exceed Cascade's stake. The Gates Foundation also holds small amount separately. Former CEO Douglas Baker Jr. owned less than 1 percent. So largest shareholder is Cascade Investment LLC controlled by Bill Gates, making him dominant shareholder but not majority owner, as Ecolab is publicly traded with remaining 75 percent owned by other institutions and individuals.