Additional Coverage:
- Bill Gates says he will never downsize his ‘gigantic’ $130 million mansion he bought for just $2 million (newsbreak.com)
Local billionaire Bill Gates is staying put in his sprawling Lake Washington mansion, affectionately nicknamed Xanadu 2.0. The 66,000 square-foot home boasts amenities like six kitchens, 24 bathrooms, a trampoline room, and an indoor pool.
Despite being single and an empty-nester since 2021, Gates has no plans to downsize. He enjoys the space and his children appreciate having a place to return to. Gates admits the house is enormous, especially compared to his sisters’ smaller homes, but he’s content.
The Microsoft co-founder purchased the property in 1988 for $2 million. It’s now estimated to be worth $130 million, making it a lucrative investment. Gates spent seven years and $63 million renovating the mansion to his exact specifications.
His ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, once described the home as “a bachelor’s dream and a bride’s nightmare.” She even hesitated to move in. For Gates, however, the mansion is a personal paradise, complete with a private library and a pool with an underwater music system.
Gates isn’t the only billionaire holding onto a cherished property. Warren Buffett still lives in the Omaha home he bought with his late wife in 1958 for $31,500. While significantly smaller than Gates’ estate, Buffett considers it his third-best investment ever due to the countless memories made within its walls.