An Overview Of Bill Gates’ Breathtaking Real Estate Portfolio
Bill Gates is one of the few individuals in the world who have a net worth exceeding $100 billion. The Microsoft co-creator has put that money to use by creating an incredibly diversified real estate portfolio. From his 242,000 acres of farmland to his $43 million oceanfront house, here's an overview of the properties Bill Gates owns.
Bill Gates Bought The Four Seasons For $3.8 Billion
Gates owns nearly half of the Four Seasons hotel chain, sharing 95% ownership with Prince al-Waleed. Both men footed the $3.8 billion cost of the takeover, which occurred in 2006.
The hotel chain began in 1960 when Isadore Sharp opened the first Four Seasons in Toronto. The company expanded and took on an upscale brand in the '70s, and today it has more than 100 hotels and resorts internationally. Queen Elizabeth II even stayed at a Four Seasons when she visited Texas in 1991.
Gates Bought The $161 Million Ritz-Carlton In San Francisco
Though the Four Seasons and the Ritz-Carlton are direct competitors, Bill Gates owns a chunk of both. In 2013, Gates joined forces with undisclosed business partners to buy the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco for a hefty $161 million.
The rooms at this luxurious hotel can cost around $1,000 a night! The stunning building sits on Nob Hill and features an ornate portico with three-story pillars. Inside, marble floors, classy wall molding, and giant chandeliers make the hotel feel truly extravagant.
Gates Spent $65 Million On His Medina Mansion
Bill Gates' mansion in Medina, Washington is so enormous that it has its own name. With a total of 66,000 square feet, the enormous property is called "Xanadu 2.0." The nickname comes from the fictional mansion in the famous film Citizen Kane.
The home cost $63 million to build, plus the $2 million lot price. It took seven years to build, not only because it's humongous, but also because of all of its high-tech features.
The Mansion Is Worth $130 Million!
It's no surprise that the co-founder of Microsoft had big plans when it came to building a high-tech home. His Medina mansion features touchpads to adjust the temperature, lighting, and sound in every room.
It even has sensors that modify the environment as you move through the house! There's a reception hall that can accommodate 200 people, six kitchens, a 1,500-square-foot home theater, a 60-foot swimming pool, and a trampoline room. The staggering estate is worth an estimated $130 million!
Del Mar House
In 2020, Gates purchased a stunning oceanfront beach house in San Diego, California. The property's $43 million price tag made it the second most expensive sale in San Diego history!
According to The San Diego Union-Tribune, the most expensive purchase was actually the same house, which sold for $48 million in 2007! This gorgeous tile pool is one of many amenities the estate has to offer, including a home theater, a tennis court, a health spa, and a 10-person hot tub.
120 Feet Of Ocean Frontage
The beautiful home is located in Del Mar, California, a city in sunny San Diego county. The property is designed to make the most of its 120 feet of ocean frontage.
Many of the rooms feature giant windows and glass doors that face the ocean beyond. The back patio was built right on the beach and features built-in seating around a fire pit, a large jacuzzi, and tons of space to entertain. The house truly feels like a beach resort.
An Open Concept Floorplan With Ocean Views
Homebuyers often appreciate an open concept floorplan since it makes the space feel larger and is ideal for entertaining. In this home, the open concept not only offers those perks, but it also ensures that the ocean views reach every corner of the house.
This exquisite living room, dining room combo is full of natural light thanks to the extra-wide sliding glass door and floor-to-ceiling windows. The exposed beams and marble floors make the home feel both cozy and elegant.
Ocean Views From The Bedroom
The home features six bedrooms spread across its 5,800 square feet, plus two guest houses. Many of the rooms face the ocean and feature floor-to-ceiling windows with views that are almost too gorgeous to be real.
This bedroom looks right out to the back patio and the ocean beyond. The beach is just a few steps away, and inside is a roaring fireplace. The beautiful room also features built-in, wooden shelves with granite countertops and a tall ceiling with exposed beams.
A Charming Spare Room
This bedroom is both adorable and exquisite with stone walls, a vaulted ceiling, exposed beams, built-in cabinets, and recessed lighting. Though this is one of the home's smaller rooms, it's still quite spacious with room for two twin beds.
Gates bought the home from Madeleine Pickens, who used to be married to the oil baron billionaire T. Boone Pickens. She tried to sell it for the price she bought it at, $48 million, but Gates negotiated it down to $43 million.
Perfect For Summertime Parties
The back patio looks like it's part of a luxurious resort with multiple patio tables under palm tree umbrellas. The stone flooring adds to the natural aesthetic while white outdoor furniture keeps the space bright and doesn't attract excess heat from the sun.
The patio is completely uncovered, making it the perfect spot to sunbathe. It also allows for unobstructed views of the sunset over the water. The spacious area is perfect for summer parties.
Gates Bought Rancho Paseana From Jenny Craig For $18 Million
In 2014, Gates bought a 229-acre equestrian estate in Rancho Santa Fe, California. The massive property, named Rancho Paseana, includes a racetrack, five barns, an olive orchard, two staff apartments, and a main house.
The previous owner was weight loss program creator Jenny Craig. She listed the property at $30 million but eventually took it off the market to privately shop the estate. This way, Craig could ensure that the buyer would continue using the property for horses.
Gates Purchased A Wellington Horse Farm For $8.7 Million
Bill Gates purchased a horse farm in Wellington, Florida to support his daughter's competitive showjumping career. He bought the property in 2013 for $8.7 million before setting his sights on various other homes in the area.
Three years later, Gates purchased another Wellington estate located near the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center for $13.5 million. The four-bedroom house features a 16-stall equestrian facility, a pool, and a spa. In 2019, Gates sold his $8.7 million horse farm for the same price he purchased it for!
Gates Owns Buffalo Bill Cody's $8.9 Million Wyoming Ranch
In 2009, Bill Gates snatched a 492-acre ranch in Wyoming for an undisclosed price. What we do know is that the property had been listed for $8.9 million and once belonged to the legendary Buffalo Bill Cody.
Buffalo Bill Cody was a Union soldier during the American Civil War and a civilian scout during the Indian Wars, for which he received the 1872 Medal of Honor. He went on to become a showman and founded Buffalo Bill's Wild West in 1883.
Gates Bought 4,500 Acres Of Florida Farmland For $28 Million
During the 2010s, Gates was on a Florida property buying spree. A year after he started purchasing properties in Wellington, the business magnate bought a ton of Florida farmland through Cascade.
Gates' personal investment firm reportedly bought $28 million worth of land in Florida's Suwanee County, which is about 350 miles north of Wellington. The huge investment scored Gates 4,500 acres of farmland. The purchase was one of the few that Cascade has made public.
Gates Owns $690 Million Worth Of American Farmland
As of 2021, Bill Gates reportedly owns 242,000 acres of farmland across America, worth an estimated $690 million. The massive farmland collection makes Gates the 49th largest private farmland owner, according to The Land Report.
The majority of Gates' farmland is in Louisiana, where he owns more than 69,000 acres of farmland, followed by Arkansas and Arizona. The Microsoft billionaire owns farmland in a total of 16 states, including California, Illinois, and Iowa.
Gates Purchased This Hobe Sound Property For $5 Million
Before Gates started purchasing a ton of property in Florida, he had this $5 million home in Hobe Sound, a city about an hour north of Wellington. Gates bought the estate in 2009 and tried to sell it for $6.6 million three years later.
After a year on the market, the home sold for the same price Gates bought it at. With almost 10,000 square feet, the property is mansion-level in terms of size, but it only has 4 bedrooms.
The Enormous Master Bedroom
While it seems unusual that a house with so much square footage would only have 4 bedrooms, it all makes sense as soon as you see the size of the rooms. This master suite, for instance, could easily be the same square footage as a one-bedroom apartment.
A tray ceiling makes the enormous room feel even larger, as do the floor-to-ceiling windows and the numerous sets of glass doors. Even with a king-sized bed and a seating area, the room feels sparsely furnished.
A Massive Indoor Pool
Another part of the mansion that takes up some of that 9,458 square feet of space is this massive indoor pool. It measures at 40 feet by 20 feet and has an abundance of room around the perimeter for furniture.
To the right of the pool is a hot tub, and above is a vaulted ceiling with a chandelier that's much fancier than what you'd expect to find near a pool. Glass doors and windows further expand the space and showcase the greenery outside.
Gates Spent Millions On The Yellowstone Mountain Club
North of Yellowstone National Park is a members-only ski club that celebrities like Justin Timberlake, Tom Brady, and Bill Gates frequent. Part of the reason the Yellowstone Mountain Club attracts famous people is because of its exclusivity and high membership rates.
Joining requires a $300,000 initiation fee, $37,000 worth of dues each year, and the purchase of one of the community's multi-million dollar homes. For that hefty price members get perks like heated driveways, boot dryers, and access to the summertime golf course.
Gates Partially Owns The Charles Hotel In Harvard Square
Through his personal investment firm, Cascade, Bill Gates is a partial owner of the luxurious Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The luxurious hotel has rooms that go for upwards of $500 a night.
The Charles Hotel is also a venue for weddings, meetings, and other events. President JFK worked with real estate developer Richard Friedman to create the upscale hotel, which is located near Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. Hollywood stars, politicians, and other prominent figures have stayed there.