Bill Gates Net Worth 2026: Fortune, Assets, and Giving Revealed
Bill Gates topped the world’s richest list for years, so people still wonder how rich he is today. Forbes-based reports put his Bill Gates net worth 2026 figure near $104 billion, and some October rankings show about $113 billion.
This guide covers his rank, income sources, divorce, assets, and charity. It also explains why his name keeps sliding down the list even though his fortune stays huge.
Quick Bio:
Here is a fast snapshot before we go deeper.
| Detail | Fact |
| Full name | William Henry Gates III |
| Born | October 28, 1955, Seattle, Washington |
| Age | 70 |
| Height | About 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Education | Left Harvard University to start Microsoft |
| Occupation | Microsoft co-founder, philanthropist, investor |
| Current title | Founder and Technology Advisor, Microsoft |
| Net worth (2026) | About $104.2B (Forbes-based, January) to $113B (October list) |
| World rank | 18th to 19th, depending on the source |
| Microsoft stake | About 1% |
| Residence | Medina, Washington |
| Marital status | Divorced from Melinda French Gates (2021) |
| Children | Three: Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe |
What Is Bill Gates’ Net Worth in 2026?
Bill Gates’ net worth in 2026 is about $104.2 billion in a January report, which ranked him 19th richest. An October list shows roughly $113 billion at 18th place.
The gap comes from timing. Forbes updates fortunes daily and adjusts private company stakes once a day, so a figure can change within hours. Either number keeps Gates firmly inside the global top 20.
Bill Gates Net Worth by Milestone
Gates held the title of richest person in the world from 1995 to 2010. He then regained it from 2013 to 2018. His fortune first hit $100 billion in 1999, when Microsoft shares soared during the dot-com boom.
Jeff Bezos overtook him in 2018. Since then, new tech fortunes have pushed Gates further down. Heavy charitable giving has also slowed the growth of his wealth.
Bill Gates Net Worth vs. Other Billionaires
Elon Musk leads the October Forbes list at $919 billion. Jeff Bezos follows at $368 billion, and Larry Page holds $278 billion.
Steve Ballmer, who succeeded Gates as Microsoft CEO, sits at $159 billion. Warren Buffett has $142 billion, while Gates trails with about $113 billion on the same list.
Is Bill Gates Still the Richest Man in the World?
No. Elon Musk now holds that spot, mainly through his stakes in Tesla and SpaceX. Forbes listed him at $493.7 billion in December 2025 and $919 billion by October 2026.
Gates last held the top rank in 2018. Since then, Musk, Bezos, Page, Michael Dell, and Sergey Brin have all passed him. Gates now sits in the high teens.
How Did Bill Gates Make His Money?
Gates co-founded Microsoft with childhood friend Paul Allen in 1975. He later served as CEO, chairman, and chief software architect. Under his leadership, Microsoft became the largest PC software company in the world.
His big break came in 1980, when MS-DOS became the operating system for IBM computers. When Microsoft went public, his shares alone were worth about $350 million.
Microsoft Milestones That Built Gates’ Fortune
Microsoft Office launched in 1990 and spread across workplaces everywhere. Windows 95 followed in 1995, and Gates became the richest person on Earth for a time.
He stepped down as CEO in January 2000, and Steve Ballmer took over. Gates stayed on as chairman and chief software architect. In June 2008, he moved to part-time work to focus on his foundation.
How Gates Reduced His Microsoft Stake
Over the years, Gates sold Microsoft shares and put the money into other assets. Today he owns roughly 1% of the company, so Microsoft stock no longer drives most of his wealth.
In March 2020, he left the boards of Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway. He said he wanted more time for climate change, global health, development, and education. Satya Nadella now runs Microsoft as CEO.
How Much Is Melinda French Gates Worth After the Divorce?
Forbes estimates Melinda French Gates’ net worth at $29.4 billion. That is far below her ex-husband’s fortune, yet it places her among the richest women in the world.
The couple announced their split on May 3, 2021, after 27 years of marriage. Reports said the divorce wrapped up about four months later. Media outlets suggested her settlement passed the roughly $38 billion MacKenzie Bezos received in 2019.
Did Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates Sign a Prenup?
No. Multiple outlets reported that the couple never signed a prenuptial agreement before their 1994 wedding. TMZ also reported that neither side would receive spousal support.
The split still stayed fairly simple. Their children were no longer minors, so no custody or child support questions came up. The main impact on Bill Gates’ net worth came from the wealth transferred to Melinda.
Will Bill Gates’ Kids Inherit His Fortune?
Gates said in 2011 that each of his three children will receive just $10 million. That amount is less than 1% of his fortune today.
He prefers to direct his money toward global problems rather than build a family dynasty. This approach also fits the Giving Pledge, which he co-created with Warren Buffett to encourage billionaires to give most of their wealth away.
Bill Gates’ Family at a Glance
| Relation | Name |
| Father | William H. Gates Sr. |
| Mother | Mary Maxwell Gates |
| Sisters | Kristianne and Libby |
| Ex-wife | Melinda French Gates |
| Children | Jennifer, Rory, Phoebe |
What Is in Bill Gates’ Investment Portfolio?
Gates manages most of his wealth through Cascade Investments, his private investment firm. It holds stakes in many industries, so his investment portfolio reaches well beyond tech.
That spread matters. When tech stocks swing, his other holdings help steady the overall value of his investments.
Public Holdings
Cascade holds shares in several well-known companies:
- Berkshire Hathaway
- Coca-Cola
- Deere & Co.
- AutoNation
- Canadian National Railway
Berkshire links back to Warren Buffett, Gates’ close friend. Gates sat on the Berkshire board until March 2020.
Private Investments and Farmland
Gates also owns stakes in Four Seasons hotels, Strategic Hotels and Resorts, Branded Entertainment Network, and ResearchGate. He chairs TerraPower, a nuclear reactor design company.
He also owns about 242,000 acres of U.S. farmland. That land is a hard asset, and it makes him one of the biggest private farmland owners in the country.
What Is in Bill Gates’ Real Estate Portfolio?
Gates calls his famous home near Seattle “Xanadu 2.0.” The 11,500-square-foot mansion has a 17-by-60-foot pool, a 2,500-square-foot gym, a theater, and a library with secret bookcase doors. It also has six kitchens and 18.75 bathrooms.
His real estate portfolio extends to Wellington, Florida, a horse country hub. He paid $8.7 million for a property there in 2013, then $13.5 million for nearby land three years later. He later spent $21 million on another horse farm. His daughter Jennifer is an equestrian.
Does Bill Gates Own a Private Island?
Yes. Gates owns Grand Bogue Caye, a private island in Belize. Media profiles often list it among his more unusual assets.
Still, the island is a tiny slice of his wealth. Compared with his investments and farmland, it barely moves Bill Gates’ net worth in 2026.
Does Bill Gates Collect Art?
Yes. In 1994, he paid $30.8 million at auction for the Codex Leicester, one of Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks. It explores topics such as light, water, and flying machines. Gates has said he admires how Da Vinci worked out science on his own.
He also owns works by Andrew Wyeth, William Merritt Chase, George Bellows, Winslow Homer, and Childe Hassam. His collection is worth over $100 million.
Does Bill Gates Own a Private Jet?
Gates is a member of NetJets, a company that sells shared access to private aircraft. Some reports speculate that he also owns at least one jet, but that claim is unconfirmed.
Either way, flexible air travel helps him juggle foundation work, climate projects, and business meetings around the world.
Bill Gates’ Car Collection
Gates bought his first Porsche, a 911, in 1979 and later sold it at auction for $80,000. Since then, he has added a Porsche 930, 964, and 959, plus an electric Taycan.
He also owns a Ferrari 348 and a Jaguar XJ6. For daily driving, though, he says he uses a “normal Mercedes” or a mini-van.
How Much Does Bill Gates Donate to Charity?
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has spent more than $40 billion on global poverty and diseases such as malaria and polio. Gates and Buffett also launched the Giving Pledge to inspire more billionaire giving.
In his 2018 annual letter, Gates explained why foundations matter. They can take a global, long-term view and fund risky ideas that governments and companies avoid.
How Philanthropy Affects Bill Gates’ Net Worth
Giving moves large sums out of his personal wealth, which helps explain his slide in the rankings. Still, his Cascade holdings keep growing, so his fortune stays above $100 billion.
In May 2025, Gates announced plans to give away nearly all of his wealth through the foundation and to close it by 2045. If he follows through, future Bill Gates’ net worth estimates will likely shrink.
Bill Gates Net Worth 2026: Key Takeaways
- Net worth: about $104.2 billion (January) to $113 billion (October list)
- Rank: 18th or 19th richest person in the world
- Main sources: Microsoft shares, Cascade Investments, farmland, and hotels
- Biggest change: Elon Musk now leads at $919 billion
- Giving: more than $40 billion spent through the foundation
Conclusion
Bill Gates’ net worth in 2026 sits near $104 billion, and some October lists show $113 billion. His fortune began with Microsoft, but Cascade Investments, farmland, and hotels now carry much of the weight. Elon Musk leads the world’s richest list, while Gates keeps slipping because he donates heavily. Through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he has directed more than $40 billion toward health and poverty. Expect his ranking to keep falling as his impact keeps growing. Check back for updates and compare other billionaire fortunes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bill Gates’ net worth in 2026?
Bill Gates’ net worth in 2026 is about $104.2 billion in a January Forbes-based report, which ranked him 19th richest. Forbes’ October list shows roughly $113 billion at 18th place. The difference comes from timing, because Forbes updates fortunes daily as stock prices move. Either way, Gates stays in the global top 20.
How rich is Bill Gates compared to Elon Musk?
Elon Musk is far richer than Bill Gates. Forbes lists Musk at $919 billion in October 2026, while Gates holds roughly $104 to $113 billion, depending on the source. That makes Musk’s fortune about eight to nine times larger. Musk’s wealth comes mainly from his stakes in Tesla and SpaceX.
How much Microsoft stock does Bill Gates own?
Bill Gates owns roughly 1% of Microsoft today. He sold most of his shares over the years and moved the money into other investments. He now holds most of his wealth through Cascade Investments, which owns stakes in Berkshire Hathaway, Coca-Cola, Deere & Co., AutoNation, Canadian National Railway, and hotels.
Is Bill Gates still a billionaire?
Yes, Bill Gates is still a billionaire with more than $100 billion. His fortune has stayed high despite his 2021 divorce from Melinda French Gates and decades of charitable giving. Forbes still ranks him among the world’s top 20 richest people, though he no longer holds the number one spot.
Who is richer, Bill Gates or Warren Buffett?
Warren Buffett is richer than Bill Gates on the October 2026 Forbes list. Buffett holds $142 billion and ranks 10th, while Gates holds about $113 billion at 18th place. A separate January estimate puts Gates near $104 billion. The two are close friends and co-founders of the Giving Pledge.
