A Look At Microsoft Co-Founder Bill Gates's Property Portfolio
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- Medina, Washington Primary Residence
- Indian Wells Mansion
- Rancho, Santa Fe Suburban Home
- Hotel Chains
- Oceanfront Del Mar Property
- Wyoming Estate
- Yellowstone Club Property
- South Florida Estate
- Belize Private Island
- Private Washington State Farmland
Bill Gates and his friend Paul Allen founded tech giant Microsoft in New Mexico in 1975. The organization has become a pioneer of technology and software development. Gates’ net worth quickly soared to billions in the 1980s and 1992, and he became the richest man in America with a $6.3 billion net worth. Since retiring as the Chairman of Microsoft in 2014 and resigning his seat from the Board in 2020, Gates has invested in various companies that have increased his fortune to a whopping $129.2 billion. The mogul has spent his money diversifying his portfolio and purchased expensive real estate properties in the country.
From owning a multi-million dollar residence in Washington state to having properties in private country clubs and an island, Bill Gates has put his money to good use on properties that will increase their value over time.
Medina, Washington Primary Residence
The extortionate property on the list, Gates’ primary residence in Medina, Washington, is a 66,000 sq. ft. home. According to Forbes, the home is worth $131 million and took seven years to be built to completion. Nicknamed Xanadu 2.0, it features a trampoline room, an artificial stream, six kitchens, a 60-foot swimming pool, and a dining hall with a 200-people accommodation capacity.
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Indian Wells Mansion
Located in the exclusive Vintage Club in Indian Wells, California, Bill purchased a desert mansion for $12.5 million in 1999. Surrounded by a posh golf course and resort, the home is only twenty miles away from Palm Springs. The 1.33-acre estate features a main residence with six bedrooms and seven-and-a-half bathrooms with a vast lawn and a guitar-shaped swimming pool.
Rancho, Santa Fe Suburban Home
During the real estate market decline in 2014, the businessman took the opportunity to purchase Jenny Craig’s 228-acre horse ranch for $18 million in an off-market deal, which lowered from the original $25 million. The Beverly Hills-style home is 20 miles from San Diego, and the farm has four 30-stall barns, a guesthouse, a racetrack, an office, and a veterinarian suite, as stated by Dirt.
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Hotel Chains
The Cascades Investment LLC, Gates’ investment firm, has helped him make several purchases in real estate over the last few years. Under the company’s name, he has purchased stakes in the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts since 2007. In 2021, he bought a controlling stake in the company by buying a Saudi Arabian Prince’s stake worth $2.21 billion, which makes him a majority controller of the properties of the Four Seasons.
Oceanfront Del Mar Property
The billionaire made big investments during the lockdown, and one of his expensive purchases was a $43 million oceanfront compound in Del Mar, near Santa Fe. The single-story home has a 120-foot beachfront area with six bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms for a comfortable stay. Some recreational areas include a 10-person hot tub, health and fitness suite, a home theater, and a glass-tiled swimming pool.
Wyoming Estate
Known as the Irma Lake Lodge, Bill Gates shelled out $9 million to buy a property on the foothills of Cody, Wyoming, as reported by Business Insider. The 15,000 sq. ft. of the main residence comes with a seven-mile-long driveway for utmost privacy. The beautiful house is located on a 500-acre ranch with lush shrubberies and trees everywhere. The home also has a five-bedroom guesthouse, a three-room cottage, and a caretakers’ house.
Yellowstone Club Property
The Yellowstone Club is one of the most exclusive clubs globally, and Gates paid an undisclosed amount to buy an estate on the wooden ridge. The community has a 13,600-acre ski and golf resort community with several members with hefty fortunes, including Justin Timberlake-Jessica Biel, and Justin Bieber. The club membership reportedly costs $300,000, and the starting price of a home around the estate is $5 million.
South Florida Estate
In 2009, the business tycoon paid $9 million for a waterfront estate in the Hobe Sound neighborhood in South Florida however sold the property in 2018 for $8 million. As his daughter is an award-winning equestrian, they moved to a village in Wellington where she could practice and perform. It is located 17 miles off Palm Beach in The Everglades.
Belize Private Island
Bill purchased the largest island in the Republic of Belize, a mesmerizing piece of paradise. The lush land is a powerful investment opportunity that can offer returns. As mentioned by Haute Residence, the private island has ample space for specialized saltwater fishing areas, water sports, and an abundance of beautiful views of the blue lagoon.
Private Washington State Farmland
Gates is the biggest farmland owner in North America, and he owns more than 14,000 acres of land in Washington state. The land has potato fields where the vegetable is cultivated and processed to make French Fries at McDonald’s. The land also grows carrots and onions in large quantities to be sold in groceries across the state.
Additionally, the mogul has farmlands in Georgia, Nebraska, and Louisiana, where various vegetation is grown for cultivation and sale. From lavish estates worth over a hundred million to farmlands used to supply healthy foods, Bill Gates has made massive investments that will have bigger returns in the future.
Sources: Forbes, Dirt, Business Insider, Haute Residence
