I don't think that's what scott_s meant. When Bill Gates sells his shares, someone else buys them. The amount of money Bill withdraws is exactly matched by a ne

I don't think that's what scott_s meant. When Bill Gates sells his shares, someone else buys them. The amount of money Bill withdraws is exactly matched by a new investor(s). The MS stock price stays roughly the same. Think of it this way, Microsoft didn't raid its savings account and sell off office furniture to pay him. Another investor pays him.