The company owned by the American millionaire transferred shares he held in other companies to the businessman's now ex-wife. Melinda Gates, who is co-chair of the Gates Foundation, is left with a fortune valued at 145.5 billion.

Cascade Investment, Bill Gates' company that controls Microsoft stock and half of the Gates' personal fortune, transferred $1.8 billion in shares in other companies it held to Melinda French Gates, a day after the couple announced their divorce.

With this transfer to Melinda Gates' portfolio, the co-founder and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation now owns 14.1 million shares in Canadian National Railway, valued at $1.5 billion, according to filings with the SEC, the US market regulator.

In addition to transferring securities of this railroad company, Cascade Investment has placed an additional 2.94 million shares of AutoNation stock, worth $309 million, in Gates' hand.  

Through Cascade, the Gates family has several holdings in real estate, energy, and hospitality, as well as stakes in dozens of public companies, including Deere and Republic Services. The couple is also among the largest landowners in the US.

With these changes, Melinda Gates' fortune is now valued at $145.5 billion, according to the Blomberg Multi-millionaire Index.