Bill Gates net worth is estimated at about $104 billion to $108 billion in 2026, depending on the wealth tracker used. Bloomberg listed him at $104 billion as of April 25, 2026, while Forbes placed him at $108 billion on its 2026 World’s Billionaires list. His wealth is not a pile of cash. It is an estimate based on Microsoft shares, Cascade Investment holdings, public stocks, private assets, real estate, past dividends, charitable giving, taxes, and transfers tied to his divorce and philanthropy.
Gates is best known as the co-founder of Microsoft, but most of his current fortune is no longer just Microsoft stock. A large part is tied to Cascade Investment, the private investment company that manages wealth created from Microsoft stock sales and dividends. This article covers his latest net worth, 2025 vs. 2026 change, income sources, businesses, career, assets, ranking, comparison with other billionaires, and frequently asked questions.
Quick Answer
Bill Gates is an American businessperson, investor, philanthropist, author, and Microsoft co-founder. His latest estimated net worth is roughly $104 billion to $108 billion in 2026.
His main wealth source is Microsoft, but much of his current fortune is managed through Cascade Investment. Estimates vary because public shares move daily, private assets are hard to value, and Gates has made very large charitable and divorce-related transfers.
Net Worth Snapshot Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | William Henry Gates III |
| Known as / nickname | Bill Gates |
| Estimated latest net worth | About $104 billion to $108 billion |
| Estimated 2025 net worth | About $107 billion, based on 2025 public reporting around his accelerated giving plan |
| Change in dollars | About -$3 billion using $107B vs. Bloomberg’s $104B latest figure; about +$1B using Forbes’ $108B annual figure |
| Change in percentage | About -2.8% using $104B; about +0.9% using $108B |
| Main wealth source | Microsoft, Cascade Investment, public stocks, private assets, dividends, and investment returns |
| Country | United States |
| Industry | Technology, investing, philanthropy |
| Age | 70 |
| Birthday | October 28, 1955 |
| Birthplace | Seattle, Washington, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Last updated | April 28, 2026 |
| Confidence level | High for broad range; medium for exact number |
| Reason for confidence level | Bloomberg and Forbes publish current estimates, but private investments, charitable transfers, taxes, and undisclosed holdings make the exact number uncertain |
Basic Info
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | William Henry Gates III |
| Nickname | Bill Gates |
| Age | 70 |
| Birthday | October 28, 1955 |
| Birthplace | Seattle, Washington |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Businessperson, investor, philanthropist, author |
| Known for | Co-founding Microsoft, building one of the world’s largest software companies, large-scale philanthropy |
| Main industry | Technology |
| Public status | Public figure, billionaire, Gates Foundation chair |
Bill Gates became famous because Microsoft helped turn personal computers into everyday tools. His career moved through several stages: programmer, founder, CEO, chairman, investor, philanthropist, and public voice on health, climate, energy, education, and artificial intelligence.
Family and Personal Life
Bill Gates was born to William H. Gates Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates. His father was an attorney and civic leader. His mother was a schoolteacher, University of Washington regent, and chair of United Way International. Gates grew up in Seattle with two sisters.
Gates married Melinda French Gates in 1994. The couple announced their divorce in 2021. They have three children. The Gates Foundation’s official biography also says Gates has two grandchildren.
The divorce had a financial impact on Gates’ reported wealth. Bloomberg notes that company filings and later tax filings showed more than $8 billion in stock transfers to Melinda French Gates, and Bloomberg updated its model in January 2026 to remove an additional $12.5 billion that Gates had agreed to provide for French Gates’ charity work.
Privacy note: Gates’ family is widely covered because he is a major public figure. This article avoids private addresses and unnecessary personal details.
Education
Gates attended Lakeside School in Seattle, where he developed a strong interest in computers. Britannica reports that he wrote his first software program at age 13. At Lakeside, he also worked with other students on programming projects, including systems connected to school scheduling and payroll-style computing.
He later enrolled at Harvard University. Gates did not complete a degree at that time because he left Harvard during his junior year to build Microsoft with Paul Allen. Harvard later awarded him an honorary degree.
His education helped his career in three clear ways. First, Lakeside gave him early access to computers when that was rare. Second, his strong math and programming skills helped him understand software as both a technical and business opportunity. Third, Harvard placed him near Paul Allen at the exact moment the personal computer market was opening.
Early Life and Background
Bill Gates grew up in a family that valued education, competition, public service, and hard work. As a child, he was known for being highly curious and intense. His early interest in computing began at Lakeside School, where access to a computer terminal changed the direction of his life.
His first major business step came before Microsoft. Gates and Paul Allen worked on Traf-O-Data, a traffic-counting venture. It was not a huge commercial success, but it taught them how software could solve real-world problems.
The major turning point came in 1975, when Allen saw the Altair 8800 personal computer featured in Popular Electronics. Gates and Allen believed the machine needed software. They built a version of BASIC for it, which became Microsoft’s first product. That move placed Gates at the front of the personal computer revolution.
Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone | What happened | Net worth impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Birth | William Henry Gates III was born in Seattle | No direct impact |
| 1960s–1970s | Lakeside School | Gates learned programming and built early software skills | Created the technical foundation for Microsoft |
| Early 1970s | Traf-O-Data | Gates and Paul Allen worked on traffic-counting software | Early business experience |
| 1975 | Microsoft begins | Gates and Allen developed Altair BASIC and started Microsoft | Start of his main wealth source |
| 1981 | Microsoft and IBM PC era | MS-DOS became central to the IBM PC ecosystem | Huge long-term business impact |
| 1985 | Windows launch | Microsoft released the first consumer version of Windows | Expanded Microsoft’s market power |
| 1986 | Microsoft IPO | Microsoft went public | Gates became a major paper billionaire as shares rose |
| 1990s | Windows and Office dominance | Microsoft became a core software company for businesses and homes | Gates’ wealth rose sharply |
| 1998–2001 | Antitrust pressure | Microsoft faced major U.S. antitrust scrutiny | Reputation and business pressure, but Microsoft remained dominant |
| 2000 | CEO transition | Gates stepped down as Microsoft CEO | Shift from operator to chairman and philanthropist |
| 2000 | Gates Foundation formed | Bill and Melinda combined philanthropic work into a major foundation | Wealth began moving more aggressively toward philanthropy |
| 2008 | Full-time Microsoft role reduced | Gates moved away from daily Microsoft work | More focus on philanthropy and investments |
| 2010 | Giving Pledge | Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett founded the Giving Pledge | Reinforced plan to give away much of his fortune |
| 2020 | Left Microsoft board | Gates stepped down from Microsoft’s board | Microsoft stake became less visible in later filings |
| 2021 | Divorce announced | Bill and Melinda French Gates announced divorce | Large transfers affected estimated net worth |
| 2025 | Accelerated giving plan | Gates said he would give away virtually all his wealth through the Gates Foundation over 20 years | Major long-term reduction expected |
| 2026 | Latest ranking change | Bloomberg listed Gates at $104B and Forbes listed him at $108B | Still a top global billionaire, but lower rank than earlier decades |
Businesses and Ownership
Bill Gates’ wealth is built from several business layers, not one simple paycheck.
Microsoft
Microsoft is the company that made Gates one of the richest people in history. He co-founded it with Paul Allen in 1975. Gates served as CEO until 2000 and remained deeply involved for years after that.
Bloomberg says Gates has about 1% of Microsoft, though his stake is not disclosed in the same way after he left Microsoft’s board in March 2020. Microsoft remains important because Gates received enormous wealth from earlier stock ownership, stock sales, and dividends.
Cascade Investment
Cascade Investment is one of the most important parts of the Bill Gates net worth story. Bloomberg says most of Gates’ fortune comes from Cascade, a holding company created with proceeds from Microsoft stock sales and dividends.
Cascade has held stakes in public companies and private assets across industries such as railroads, waste services, equipment, hotels, energy, and real estate. Publicly discussed holdings have included companies such as Canadian National Railway, Deere, Ecolab, AutoNation, and Republic Services. Exact current values can change with filings, sales, and market prices.
Gates Foundation
The Gates Foundation is not a personal business asset in the normal sense. It is a nonprofit organization. Shares and assets held by the foundation are not counted as Gates’ personal net worth by Bloomberg.
Still, the foundation matters because Gates has donated tens of billions of dollars over time. In 2025, Gates said the foundation would close by December 31, 2045, and that he would give away virtually all of his wealth through it over the next 20 years.
Breakthrough Energy
Breakthrough Energy is Gates’ climate and energy platform. It focuses on clean technology, energy innovation, and reducing emissions. It is part investment platform, part policy and innovation network. Some investments may have financial upside, but its public purpose is climate impact.
TerraPower
Gates is also connected to TerraPower, a nuclear energy company working on advanced reactor technology. TerraPower is private, so its exact value inside Gates’ personal fortune is not easy to confirm from public sources.
Gates Ventures
Gates Ventures supports Gates’ work across books, policy ideas, learning, climate, technology, and public communication. It is more of a private office and idea platform than a traditional public company.
Net Worth 2025 vs. Latest Net Worth
| Year | Estimated net worth | Dollar change | Percentage change | Main reason for change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | About $107 billion | Baseline | Baseline | Public estimate around Gates’ May 2025 pledge to give away most of his fortune |
| 2026 latest Bloomberg estimate | $104 billion | -$3 billion | -2.8% | Market moves, Bloomberg model changes, philanthropy, and divorce-related transfers |
| 2026 Forbes annual estimate | $108 billion | +$1 billion | +0.9% | Forbes annual list used March 1, 2026 stock prices and exchange rates |
The safest way to describe Gates’ 2025 vs. 2026 wealth is a range, not a single exact number. Public trackers differ because they update on different dates and use different methods.
Bloomberg listed Gates at $104 billion as of April 25, 2026, with a year-to-date decline of $13.2 billion, or 11.3%. Forbes listed him at $108 billion on its 2026 list, using stock prices and exchange rates from March 1, 2026.
The biggest reasons for movement are public stock prices, Microsoft exposure, Cascade Investment holdings, charitable giving, and large transfers connected to Melinda French Gates’ philanthropic work.
Wealth High and Low
Bill Gates was once the face of global billionaire rankings. For many years, he ranked No. 1 or near No. 1 in the world. His wealth rose with Microsoft’s growth, especially after the company’s 1986 IPO and the success of Windows and Office.
His recent wealth story is different. Gates is still extremely wealthy, but his rank has fallen because of three forces:
- Other tech fortunes grew faster, especially those tied to AI, cloud computing, social media, e-commerce, and electric vehicles.
- Gates gave away very large amounts of money.
- Wealth trackers changed how they count his fortune after new data about charitable commitments and transfers.
A recent public high appeared in Bloomberg-style estimates before a major 2025 methodology change, when Gates’ reported fortune was much higher. Bloomberg later lowered its valuation by about $50 billion to better reflect outside charitable giving and a May 2025 Gates Notes wealth statement.
A recent low is the April 2026 Bloomberg estimate of about $104 billion. That does not mean Gates lost all that money in cash. It means the public estimate changed because of market moves, gifts, transferred assets, and valuation methods.
Income Sources
| Income source | Estimated value | Frequency | Reliability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft ownership | Large but reduced stake; Bloomberg says about 1% | Ongoing market value and dividends | High for general source, medium for exact stake | Gates no longer discloses ownership through Microsoft proxy filings the same way after leaving the board |
| Microsoft stock sales and dividends | Bloomberg says more than $60B received from Microsoft and other companies over time | Historical and ongoing | High | Key source of Cascade Investment capital |
| Cascade Investment | Tens of billions in estimated value | Ongoing | Medium | Includes public and private assets; exact value is not fully public |
| Public stock holdings | Multi-billion-dollar exposure | Ongoing | Medium to high | Some holdings are visible through filings; values change daily |
| Private assets | Unknown; likely large | Ongoing | Medium to low | Private companies and real estate are harder to value |
| Real estate | Hundreds of millions possible across public reports | Ongoing | Medium | Public records and media reports exist, but values change |
| Book income | Not central to net worth | Occasional | Medium | Gates has published books, including memoir and public-policy titles |
| Speaking/media/podcast work | Not central to net worth | Occasional | Low to medium | Small compared with investments |
| Philanthropy | Reduces personal net worth | Ongoing | High | Gates has pledged to give away virtually all his wealth through the foundation |
| Salary | Not a major current source | Not meaningful | High | Gates is not building wealth from a normal salary today |
| Crypto | No reliable major public evidence | Not confirmed | Low | Not a meaningful confirmed wealth source |
| Endorsements/sponsorships | No meaningful public evidence | Not confirmed | Low | Gates is not mainly an endorsement-based celebrity |
Property and Assets
Bill Gates owns or has been linked to several high-value assets, but property reporting should be handled carefully because exact addresses and private ownership details are not necessary.
Primary home
Gates is widely reported to own a large home in Medina, Washington, often nicknamed Xanadu 2.0. Public reports describe it as a large Lake Washington estate. Older public reporting placed its assessed value above $100 million, and recent real estate coverage has described the broader estate as worth more than $130 million. Exact address details are intentionally not included here.
Nearby property sales
In 2026, real estate outlets reported that Gates listed or sold a smaller nearby Medina property for around $4.8 million. Reports described it as adjacent to his larger estate and possibly used as a privacy buffer.
Farmland
Gates has also been widely reported as one of the largest private owners of farmland in the United States, with land tied to Cascade Investment and related entities. The commonly cited figure is around 242,000 acres, though land totals may shift over time as holdings change.
Investment assets
His biggest assets are not cars or houses. They are financial assets: Microsoft-related wealth, Cascade holdings, public company stakes, private investments, and investment funds.
Lifestyle
Gates’ lifestyle is wealthy, but it is not best understood through celebrity-style spending. His public identity is tied more to books, science, philanthropy, health, climate, technology, and global development than to flashy luxury branding.
He has owned major real estate and has used private aviation. He has also invested in climate-related technology and has spoken publicly about the need to reduce emissions. His largest public “spending habit” is philanthropy.
The Gates Foundation has already given away more than $100 billion during its first 25 years, according to Gates’ own 2025 letter. The plan is to spend much more before the foundation closes in 2045.
Philanthropy
Philanthropy is central to Gates’ wealth story. It is also why his net worth does not grow like some other tech billionaires’ fortunes.
Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett founded the Giving Pledge in 2010. The pledge encourages wealthy people to give away most of their wealth during their lives or through their wills.
In 2025, Gates announced a major change: the Gates Foundation would close on December 31, 2045, and he would give away virtually all of his wealth through it over the next 20 years. The foundation said this plan would allow about $200 billion in additional spending over two decades.
This means Gates’ future net worth is expected to fall over time if the giving plan is carried out as described.
Controversies and Legal Issues
Microsoft antitrust case
Microsoft faced major U.S. antitrust scrutiny in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The case focused on Microsoft’s power in operating systems and browser competition. It affected Microsoft’s public image and business behavior, but it did not destroy the company. Microsoft remained one of the world’s most valuable technology companies.
Divorce and financial transfers
Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates announced their divorce in 2021. Public financial details emerged over time through filings and reporting. Bloomberg says more than $8 billion in stocks were transferred to Melinda French Gates and that its January 2026 wealth model removed an additional $12.5 billion tied to Gates’ commitment to support her charity work.
Jeffrey Epstein-related scrutiny
Gates has faced public criticism over past meetings with Jeffrey Epstein. Gates has said he regrets the association. In April 2026, AP reported that the Gates Foundation was reviewing past Epstein-related ties and partnership-vetting procedures. The foundation said no joint fund or payments resulted from Epstein’s claims of philanthropic connections.
Public criticism of billionaire philanthropy
Gates is also part of a wider debate about billionaire philanthropy. Supporters say his giving has helped global health, vaccines, disease prevention, and education. Critics argue that private billionaires can have too much influence over public priorities. Both points are part of the public discussion around his legacy.
Ranking
Bill Gates remains one of the richest people in the world, but he is no longer usually ranked in the top five.
| Ranking source | Latest listed rank | Listed net worth | Date/context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomberg Billionaires Index | No. 17 | $104 billion | As of April 25, 2026 |
| Forbes World’s Billionaires 2026 | No. 19 | $108 billion | 2026 annual list using March 1, 2026 values |
| Country context | Top U.S. billionaire tier | Over $100 billion | U.S. technology/investment wealth |
| Industry context | Technology billionaire | Over $100 billion | Microsoft and investments |
Gates’ rank has slipped mainly because others grew faster and because he has given away or committed very large amounts of wealth.
Comparison With Similar People
| Person | Estimated net worth | Main source of wealth | Industry | Who is richer? | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Gates | $104B–$108B | Microsoft, Cascade Investment | Technology/investing | — | Still above $100B, but lower than earlier rank |
| Steve Ballmer | $126B by Forbes 2026 | Microsoft | Technology/sports ownership | Ballmer | Ballmer held a large Microsoft stake for longer |
| Warren Buffett | $149B by Forbes 2026 | Berkshire Hathaway | Finance/investing | Buffett | Berkshire stock and slower giving pace in recent tracker values |
| Michael Bloomberg | $109B by Forbes 2026 | Bloomberg LP | Finance/media | Slightly Bloomberg by Forbes | Bloomberg LP remains highly valuable |
| Jeff Bezos | $224B by Forbes 2026 | Amazon | Technology/e-commerce | Bezos | Amazon stake is much larger in current market value |
| Larry Ellison | $190B by Forbes 2026 | Oracle | Technology | Ellison | Oracle and related holdings rose strongly |
| Mark Zuckerberg | $222B by Forbes 2026 | Meta Platforms | Technology/social media | Zuckerberg | Meta’s market value has surged |
| Elon Musk | $839B by Forbes 2026 | Tesla, SpaceX | Technology/transport/space | Musk | Tesla and SpaceX valuations dominate current rankings |
Why Net Worth Estimates Differ
Bill Gates’ net worth estimates differ for several reasons.
First, public shares change in value every trading day. If Microsoft, Canadian National Railway, Deere, Ecolab, or other holdings move, the estimate can move too.
Second, private assets are hard to value. Cascade Investment owns or has owned assets that are not priced like a public stock.
Third, debt and taxes are not always fully public. Wealth trackers make assumptions based on available information.
Fourth, philanthropy changes the number. When Gates gives money to the foundation, or commits money to future charitable work, trackers may treat that differently.
Fifth, divorce-related transfers matter. Large transfers to Melinda French Gates and her philanthropic work reduced Gates’ estimated personal fortune.
Finally, net worth is not cash in the bank. A billionaire can be worth $100 billion on paper while much of that wealth is tied up in stocks, private companies, foundations, land, or illiquid assets.
How We Estimated Net Worth
This article uses a range because that is more honest than pretending there is one perfect number.
The estimate is based on:
- Bloomberg’s April 25, 2026 figure of $104 billion
- Forbes’ 2026 billionaire list figure of $108 billion
- Public reporting around Gates’ 2025 pledge, which described his fortune around $107 billion
- Microsoft-related wealth
- Cascade Investment as the main private holding vehicle
- Public company stakes and disclosed holdings
- Known charitable giving and foundation transfers
- Divorce-related asset transfers
- Public real estate and farmland reporting
- Reliable biography and foundation sources
The result is best stated as: Bill Gates is worth about $104 billion to $108 billion in 2026, with the exact figure changing based on market prices and valuation methods.
Latest Updates
| Update type | Latest public information |
|---|---|
| Most recent wealth change | Bloomberg listed Gates at $104B as of April 25, 2026, down $13.2B year to date |
| Most recent Forbes ranking | Forbes ranked Gates No. 19 on its 2026 World’s Billionaires list with $108B |
| Most recent philanthropy update | Gates Foundation plans to spend an additional $200B and close by December 31, 2045 |
| Most recent foundation update | AP reported in 2026 that the foundation announced a $9B budget and staff-reduction plans |
| Most recent public letter | Gates’ January 2026 “Year Ahead” letter discussed AI, global health, child mortality, and aid cuts |
| Date of latest available information | April 28, 2026 |
FAQ
What is Bill Gates’ net worth?
Bill Gates’ net worth is estimated at about $104 billion to $108 billion in 2026. Bloomberg listed him at $104 billion, while Forbes listed him at $108 billion.
How did Bill Gates get rich?
Gates got rich by co-founding Microsoft. His wealth grew through Microsoft stock, dividends, stock sales, and later investments managed through Cascade Investment.
What is Bill Gates’ salary?
Bill Gates does not build his wealth from a normal salary today. His fortune mainly comes from investments, Microsoft-related wealth, and asset values.
How much does Bill Gates make per year?
There is no single confirmed yearly income number. His annual wealth can rise or fall by billions based on stock prices, dividends, investment returns, charitable giving, and valuation changes.
Is Bill Gates a billionaire?
Yes. Bill Gates is a billionaire many times over. His 2026 estimated net worth is above $100 billion.
What businesses does Bill Gates own?
Gates co-founded Microsoft and controls or is linked to investment and innovation platforms such as Cascade Investment, Gates Ventures, TerraPower, and Breakthrough Energy. Exact ownership values in private entities are not fully public.
What is Bill Gates’ biggest income source?
His biggest wealth source is Microsoft-related money that was built over decades, much of it now managed through Cascade Investment.
How much was Bill Gates worth in 2025?
Public reporting around his 2025 giving announcement described his fortune at about $107 billion. Some wealth trackers showed different numbers at different dates.
Why do Bill Gates net worth estimates differ?
They differ because public stocks move daily, private companies are hard to value, taxes and debt are not fully public, and Gates has made large charitable and divorce-related transfers.
Who is richer, Bill Gates or Steve Ballmer?
Steve Ballmer is richer in Forbes’ 2026 ranking. Forbes listed Ballmer at $126 billion and Gates at $108 billion.
Does Bill Gates own real estate?
Yes. Gates is widely reported to own a major home in Medina, Washington, along with other real estate interests. This article avoids exact addresses.
What is Bill Gates’ latest ranking?
Bloomberg listed Gates at No. 17 as of April 25, 2026. Forbes ranked him No. 19 on its 2026 World’s Billionaires list.
Conclusion
Bill Gates net worth in 2026 is best understood as an estimate of about $104 billion to $108 billion, not an exact cash balance. His fortune began with Microsoft, grew through stock ownership and dividends, and is now strongly tied to Cascade Investment and a wide mix of public and private assets. His wealth has changed because of market moves, philanthropy, divorce-related transfers, and updated valuation methods. Gates remains one of the richest people in the world, but his rank has fallen as other tech fortunes grew faster and as he accelerated his plan to give away most of his money. The key point is simple: Gates is still worth over $100 billion, but much of that wealth is planned for philanthropy, not personal accumulation.
