- Bill Gates has an extensive real estate portfolio spanning over 275,000 acres, with properties in Florida, Washington, and Montana.
- The Microsoft founder’s holdings include multiple horse ranches.
- Gates also owns the $645 million USD Breakthrough, the world’s first hydrogen-powered superyacht.
Beyond their business success and financial achievements, the world’s richest men are often defined by lavish estates and sprawling properties — true markers of their elite status. While billionaires like Jeff Bezos are known for impressive collections of luxurious properties, Elon Musk decided to choose a minimalist life, and Bill Gates stands out for balancing both opulence and purpose. Despite his well-publicised pledge to give away much of his fortune, Gates has built an impressive portfolio, including extravagant estates and vast agricultural holdings worth almost $400 million USD ($600 million AUD).
Owning more than 275,000 acres across seventeen states, including the biggest landholdings in Louisiana and Arkansas and an equally sizable farm in Arizona, reflects his broader vision for the global systems of agriculture, food, and resource management. He even puts some of this farmland to use in growing potatoes for McDonald’s fries, according to his recent biography. From vast expanses to diverse properties, Gates’ real estate empire is not just about farms; his grand, private estates seamlessly blend luxury with long-term impact.
Xanadu 2.0
- Price: $63 million USD
- Size: 66,000 square-foot
- Date of Purchase: 1998
Anchoring Bill Gates’s real estate portfolio is his main residence, Xanadu 2.0, which is situated in Medina, Washington. This mansion is a striking example of modern architecture, designed by renowned firms Bohlin Cywinski Jackson and Cutler-Anderson Architects, blending advanced technology with sheer grandeur. The vast 66,000-square-foot estate sits on five acres overlooking Lake Washington. With 7 bedrooms, 6 kitchens, and 24 bathrooms, Xanadu 2.0 is as much a work of art as function.
The home features a cutting-edge automation system where everything can be precisely regulated, from lighting to temperature. Every guest has a personal pin that makes their experience in the house unique, adjusting the environment to their liking as they go. Completing the package is the 60-foot pool with an underwater music system, a 2,500-square-foot gym and an elegant floating staircase. The estate also has a library with a dome-shaped roof, serving both as an architectural and intellectual retreat for the Gates family.
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Vintage Club Home
- Price: $12.5 million USD
- Size: 3,573square-foot
- Date of Purchase: 1990
Situated in California’s exclusive Indian Wells, Bill Gates’ Vintage Club Home is a tranquil retreat nestled in one of the world’s most exclusive golf communities. Acquired in 1990 for $12.5 million USD, this property is set within a sprawling 712-acre community that boasts luxurious residences and exceptional facilities. The house itself measures 3,573 square feet and has six bedrooms and nine bathrooms, perfect for relaxation and entertaining. The club boasts an array of amenities that include two golf courses, a spa, and fine dining.
Del Mar Beach House
- Price: $43 million USD
- Size: 5,800 square-foot
- Date of Purchase: 2020
On the West Coast, Gates has an iconic oceanfront estate in Del Mar, California. Designed by architect Ken Ronchetti, this mansion features 6 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and is spread across 5,800 square feet of prime beachfront land. The estate offers a large outdoor deck with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, a four-car garage, and an exquisite glass-tiled swimming pool. This property is considered one of the most iconic beach homes along the coast in the region.
Equestrian Facility Florida
- Price: $21 million USD
- Size: 5.5 acres
- Date of Purchase: 2019
In 2019, Bill Gates purchased the Equestrian Facility in Wellington, Florida — a prime piece of real estate that serves as both a training ground and a showcase for his daughter Jennifer’s equestrian pursuit. The estate includes more than 11,000 square feet of buildings, including four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and a half-bathroom. The 5.5-acre estate in Evergate Stables is equipped with the latest facilities in horse training and offers the perfect environment for equestrian sports.
Irma Lake Lodge
- Price: $9 million USD
- Size: 492 acres
- Date of Purchase: 2009
The Irma Lake Lodge is located in Wyoming, a historic estate bought by Bill Gates in 2009 for $9 million USD. The property is spread across 492 acres and contains a 15,000 square feet ranch house, among several other small buildings; one of them is a three-room cabin made by Buffalo Bill Cody back in 1902, one of the most famous and well-known figures of the American Old West. The lodge sits at the end of an 11-kilometre private road to ensure total seclusion and privacy. The property comprises a five-bedroom guesthouse, a caretaker’s house, and scenic views of nature.
Yellowstone Club, Montana
- Price: Unknown
- Size: 13,600 acres
- Date of Purchase: 2008
Bill Gates’ mountain retreat in Montana’s exclusive Yellowstone Club epitomises the notions of solitude and luxury. This ultra-private, 13,600-acre resort is for skiing and playing golf and comprises some of the wealthiest people on earth. Although it remains undisclosed how much the Microsoft founder paid for his estate, an initiation to join this ultra-luxurious club entails a whopping membership price of $450,000 USD and where the price to buy into the property will easily cost more than $7.5 million USD.
The Gates family home is a 6,993-square-foot home with a total of 8 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, a sauna, and a home theatre. The estate is situated in picturesque surroundings that offer panoramic views of a range of mountains. As a family, the Gates can ski down its slopes free from bodyguards, thanks to the extreme level of privacy and security the club offers.
Rancho Paseana
- Price: $18 million USD
- Size: 228 acres
- Date of Purchase: 2014
Rancho Paseana is an equestrian estate outside of San Diego, sitting on 228 acres, which Gates bought in 2014 for $18 million USD. In 2016, Gates expanded his equestrian property holdings by purchasing five additional estates in Mallet Hill Court, Florida, spending a total of $28 million USD. These estates illustrate Gates’ interest in equestrian sports, providing various facilities to train and enjoy horses.
The Superyacht Breakthrough
Bill Gates has also entered the world of superyachts with the commission for the first hydrogen-powered yacht, Breakthrough, valued at $645 million USD. This 390-foot-long yacht can cruise at speeds up to 17 knots and accommodate 30 guests across 15 luxuriously designed rooms, including an owner suite that epitomises luxury. Although Gates decided not to take delivery of the yacht and instead sell it, this yacht represents his commitment to technological advancement and sustainable innovation.
Along with his real estate empire, Bill Gates keeps a collection of some extraordinary personal treasures. His Bombardier BD-700 Global Express jet can accommodate 19 people in comfort, and his priced Porsche 959 sports car reflects his sophisticated tastes. But his most remarkable acquisition remains the Codex Leicester, a rare Leonardo da Vinci manuscript he purchased in 1994 for $30.8 million USD. This purchase reveals Gates not just as a tech billionaire but as a passionate collector and patron of historical knowledge.
For Gates, property and investments are much more than symbols of wealth — they are strategic tools for global impact. His empire, spanning technology, agriculture, and real estate, embodies a vision that goes beyond personal luxury to tackle humanity’s most pressing challenges. Each acquisition, from farmlands and horse ranches to the world’s first hydrogen-powered superyacht, tells the story of a visionary dedicated to creating meaningful change.
