Bill Gates is no longer Microsoft’s CEO, but he’s still among the top 10 wealthiest people in the world, with a net worth of approximately $159 billion. While he donates a significant portion of his income to fund several philanthropic projects, he also likes living an extravagant lifestyle.
If you’re curious where billionaires like Bill Gates spend most of their money, check the list of his 12 most notable purchases below.
Xanadu 2.0
One of Bill Gates’s biggest spending is his Seattle-area home, Xanadu 2.0. This ocean-side property spans over 66,000 square feet and features top-of-the-line technology and gadgets.
This massive property has 24 bathrooms, 6 kitchens, 6 fireplaces, etc. All the amenities in this residence are computer-controlled, ensuring a smooth and incredibly comfortable living for all members. The estimated value of Xanadu 2.0 is approximately $131.24 million.
Rancho Paseana
Bill Gates purchased a horse ranch, Rancho Paseana, for $18 million from the famous weight loss guru Jenny Craig.
Located nearly 26 miles north of San Diego in Rancho Santa Fe, the ranch spans 228 flat acres. It boasts a gorgeous ocean view, a ¾ mile racing track, five barns (four with 30 stalls and fifth with 21 stalls), two guest homes, etc. The ranch also includes two offices for managing the racing facilities and horse training.
Grand Bogue Caye
Grand Bogue Caye is a 314-acre island off the Belize coast in Central America. Bill Gates owns this gorgeous private tropical island, valued at $25 million.
It is the country’s largest tropical island and home to several pristine beaches, rich marine life, diving facilities, etc.
Codex Leicester
Bill Gates is an ardent reader and has a massive library built in his house to accommodate hundreds of interesting reads. While all the books in his library are noteworthy, Codex Leicester is the most precious book in the collection.
Written by Leonardo da Vinci, this 72-page document contains Leonardo’s ideas about subjects like botany, astronomy, mechanics, architecture, etc. Bill Gates purchased this book for a whopping $30.8 million, one of the most expensive books ever sold.
Collectible Art
Bill Gates loves spending his fortune on art pieces. While he keeps his art purchases silent, his appearance on the roster of the world’s 200 most active art collectors threw light on his love for art. He prefers buying iconic
American paintings by renowned artists like Andrew Wyeth and Winslow Homer. His extensive art collection is estimated to be approximately $130 million.
Porsche
Porsche is the favorite automobile of the rich and elite, and Bill Gates is no exception. He is a long-time Porsche fan and has purchased several models. Bill Gates bought a Porsche 911 in 1979 and later added a Porsche 930 Turbo and a Porsche 959 to his collection.
The fully electric Porsche Taycan is one of his recent purchases. Besides Porsche, he also owns several other luxury cars like Ferrari, Jaguar, Mercedes, etc. The total estimated value of his sports car collection is approximately $650,000.
Private Jets
Besides fancy cars like Porsche, Bill Gates also owns four private jets. He owns two Gulfstream G650ERs, each valuing $70 million.
His Bombardier Challenger 350s cost him $27 million. Besides these three jets, he owns a helicopter for smooth air travel. Bill Gates has stirred controversy for owning a large jet fleet because of being a climate activist and authoring a book titled ‘How to Avoid Climate Disaster.’
Library
Bill Gates invested a significant amount to build a massive 2,100-square-foot library in his house Xanadu 2.0. The space has hundreds of books on various topics, including ancient manuscripts. His library is an architectural marvel boasting a dome roof, two secret bookcases, etc.
While the exact cost of this library isn’t revealed to the public, people consider it rather expensive because of the gigantic space, architectural details, number of books, etc.
Changing Artwork
Installing rotational artwork is one of the most notable investments Bill Gates made while building his dream residence Xanadu 2.0. It enables anyone to change the artwork displayed on house walls with a simple touch of a button.
He installed $80,000 worth of computer screens throughout his house. These screens can display any painting or picture stored on devices worth $150,000.
Trampoline Room
In an AMA session on Reddit, Bill Gates revealed that his residence Xanadu 2.0 features a trampoline room. He built it so his kids could work off their excess energy. This room features high ceilings and spans approximately 2,500 square feet. It also boasts a steam room, sauna, and separate locker room for men and women.
An Artificial Beach
Xanadu 2.0, Bill Gates’s lavish property, has an artificial beach. It is a significant investment because the sand for this beach is imported from Hawaii, so anyone can feel the soft, cooling sensation while walking on the artificial beach shores within the property. An artificial stream is also installed with real fish, and an indoor swimming pool is equipped with underwater speakers.
Investment in Corporations
Bill Gates spends a huge portion of his money on strategic investments. A majority of his financial assets are managed by Cascade Investments LLC, Gate’s controlled entity that manages investments. Their investment portfolio is diversified, with a healthy mix of investments in hotels & resorts, advertising companies, nuclear reactor design companies, etc.
