Bill has maintained the same primary residence since the mid-’90s. The tech titan was already constructing the sprawling estate—nicknamed Xanadu 2.0, after the titular character’s mansion in Citizen Kane—when he married Melinda in 1994. Overlooking Lake Washington in Medina, a suburb of Seattle, the home clocks in at a whopping 66,000 square feet, with seven bedrooms, six kitchens, and 24 bathrooms. “My house is made of wood, glass, concrete, and stone,” Gates wrote in his 1995 book, The Road Ahead. “It’s built into a hillside, and most of the glass faces west over Lake Washington to Seattle to take advantage of the sunset and Olympic mountain views.” The house was designed by architects James Cutler and Peter Bohlin, with interiors by AD100 designer Thierry Despont. Some of its most notable amenities include a trampoline room, a 60-foot swimming pool with an underwater sound system, an artificial stream, a reception hall that can accommodate 150 people, a domed library displaying a Leonardo da Vinci manuscript, and high-tech video walls. Gates reportedly owns 12 neighboring parcels in the area, bought between 1988 and 2009, spanning 10.5 acres and adding an air of privacy to his main estate.
The billionaire still keeps this property, valued at an estimated $130 million, as his main home.
Indian Wells, California
The Gateses bought a $12.5 million six-bedroom, nine-bathroom home in Indian Wells, California, in 1999. The 13,000-square-foot manse is on the grounds of Vintage Club, a private community boasting Tom Fazio–designed golf courses that costs $300,000 to join. Bill was spotted at the club following the divorce, hinting that he may now be the sole owner of this property.
Midcentury-modern Medina property
The Microsoft cofounder paid $1.31 million for a midcentury-modern home in Medina, Washington, in 2003. Located just down the street from Xanadu 2.0, the 1954-built four-bedroom, three-bath dwelling spanned 2,430 square feet.
Gates quickly found a buyer for the relatively humble property when he listed it for about $5 million in 2024.
Rancho Santa Fe properties
In 2008, the Gateses began amassing property in Rancho Santa Fe, California. That year, they paid $3.1 million for a 4,300-square-foot home at Del Mar Country Club, featuring a 500-bottle wine cellar, a saltwater pool, and an outdoor bar.
In 2014, they bought an $18 million horse ranch in the same area from weight-loss entrepreneur Jenny Craig. The estate spans 228 acres, complete with stables, a veterinarian’s office, a racetrack, an olive orchard, and a guesthouse. A few weeks later, Gates bought another $3.2 million property located about 10 minutes away. That home, nestled on the grounds of Santaluz Country Club, spans 5,780 square feet and boasts ocean views.
It’s unclear whether Bill or Melinda maintains these properties following their 2021 divorce, though the Santaluz Club home is partly owned by the French Family Trust, hinting that perhaps Melinda is the current owner.
Montana golf escape
Bill has reportedly been a longtime member of the Yellowstone Club, a ski and golf community in Big Sky, Montana. However, details of his property at the club were unknown until a 2009 county resolution confirmed that he owns a plot at the exclusive club. In 2024, the 2.76-acre property, with a roughly 7,000-square-foot, eight-bedroom home, was valued at $29.4 million.
