Economic downturns in the early and mid-2000s affected the company . When the September 11 attacks caused the collapse of the travel industry , Four Seasons refused to cut room prices in order to preserve the perceived value of the brand , which caused tension with property owners who were losing money . The company recovered , and in 2007 it agreed to a buyout by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia for $ 3.8 billion . The pair own 95 percent of the company , in equal shares , and Sharp owns the rest
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts