An American billionaire, entrepreneur, investor, author, and philanthropist, Bill Gates is most famed for co-founding Microsoft. He has become one of the richest people in the world thanks to his contribution to the computer software industry.
Bill Gatesβ net worth is estimated to be $118.4 billion in October 2026. This figure comes from Forbes real-time billionaire list. His primary source of wealth comes from investments, Microsoft stocks, and other financial assets.
Bill Gates is still an influential figure in technology, business, and philanthropy despite retiring from day-to-day operations at Microsoft some years ago.
Below we take a closer look at Bill Gates’ net worth in 2026, sources of income, investments, assets, his career at Microsoft, and his family and charitable contributions.
Bill Gates Net Worth 2026 β Fast Facts
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | William Henry Gates III |
| Known as | Bill Gates |
| Date of birth | 28th October 1955 |
| Age (2026) | 70 years old |
| Place of birth | Seattle, Washington, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, Investor, Philanthropist |
| Famous for | Co-founder of Microsoft |
| Net Worth (2026) | Approx $118.4 Billion |
| Sources of Wealth | Microsoft, Investments |
| Education | Harvard University (did not graduate) |
| Former Spouse | Melinda French Gates |
| Children | 3 |
| Foundation | Gates Foundation |
Bill Gates Net Worth 2026
Bill Gatesβ net worth is currently around $118.4 billion in October 2026.
Bloomberg Billionaires Index show his net worth to be around $120 billion.
This difference is due to how different finance sites calculate private investments, public stocks and other assets.
Bill Gatesβ net worth fluctuates depending on the stock market, investment performance, donations and asset valuations.
Bill Gates Net Worth Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Forbes Net Worth | $118.4 Billion |
| Bloomberg Estimate | ~$120 Billion |
| Global Rank (Forbes) | Rank 16 |
| Primary Source | Microsoft |
| Secondary Sources | Diverse Investments |
| Charities | Gates Foundation |
A billionaire’s net worth isnβt a salary. It means that the total value of his assets minus any liabilities.
Bill Gates doesnβt have $118.4 billion in his bank account.
How Did Bill Gates Get So Rich?
Bill Gates made his fortune primarily from Microsoft. The tech company was co-founded in 1975 along with Paul Allen.
The company created software for personal computers and became one of the largest tech firms in the world.
This was thanks to the success of their operating systems and productivity software.
As Microsoft grew, so did Gatesβ ownership stake in the company.
Over the years Bill Gates has sold and given away parts of his Microsoft stocks, alongside diversifying his investments.
Microsoft and Bill Gatesβ Net Worth
Microsoft has played the biggest role in Bill Gates becoming a billionaire.
Important dates in Microsoftβs history include:
- 1975 β Gates and Allen founded Microsoft.
- 1981 β Microsoft launched MS-DOS for IBM compatible computers.
- 1986 β Microsoft became a publicly listed company.
- 1995 β Windows 95 brought Microsoft to the forefront of consumer software.
- 2000 β Gates became Microsoftβs CEO.
- 2008 β Full-time role at Microsoft.
- 2020 β Left Microsoft board.
Bill Gates no longer runs Microsoft but the success of the company has been pivotal in his financial success.
Bill Gatesβ Stocks and Investments
Many assume that Bill Gatesβ fortune comes from Microsoft stocks.
However, Bill Gates has diversified his wealth into various investment areas.
His Microsoft ownership has dropped below 1% due to large donations to charity, according to Forbes.
Bill Gatesβ investments have included public stocks, financial assets and private businesses.
Cascade Investment
Cascade Investment is an investment company linked to Gatesβ wealth.
This has been used to make investments outside of Microsoft. Some of the areas his investment portfolio has included are:
- Hospitality
- Transportation
- Agriculture
- Finance
By investing in a variety of areas, investors can spread their risk. However, his total private investment amount is not known.
Bill Gatesβ Salary & Income
Bill Gates no longer earns a salary from being Microsoftβs CEO as he retired from this role in 2000.
His wealth is primarily from his investments.
Main Income Sources
| Source | Description |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Stocks | Investments & Dividends |
| Cascade Investment | Diverse Investment Portfolio |
| Business Investments | Public & Private Businesses |
| Real Estate | Property Ownership |
| Books | Earnings from publishing |
| Financial Assets | Returns from investments. |
His exact personal income is not known.
His wealth can increase from investment gains.
Bill Gatesβ Assets & Properties
Bill Gates has various valuable assets and properties. However, the total value of these will fluctuate.
One of the most well-known properties Bill Gates owns is his waterfront home based in Medina, Washington.
The house is commonly referred to as Xanadu 2.0.
It became famous for being large, modern and having customised features.
Bill Gates has also invested in large amounts of land in agriculture through his investment vehicles.
Not all of the properties and business investments made through these vehicles will be owned by Bill Gates personally.
Bill Gatesβ Background & Education
William Henry Gates III was born on 28th October 1955 in Seattle, Washington.
His father was an attorney named William H. Gates Sr. and his mother was Mary Maxwell Gates who was involved in business and community groups.
Bill Gates became interested in computers whilst at school.
He attended Lakeside School where he met Paul Allen.
Both had a passion for programming.
In 1973 Bill Gates attended Harvard University.
However, he left in 1975 to start Microsoft with Allen. This led him to one of the most successful business careers in tech history.
Bill Gatesβ Wife & Children
Bill Gates married Melinda French Gates in January 1994.
They worked together on various charitable initiatives and set up a large charity foundation.
They announced they were separating in 2021 and later divorced.
They have three children:
- Jennifer Katharine Gates
- Rory John Gates
- Phoebe Adele Gates
Bill Gates has generally kept his childrenβs private lives separate from his public life.
Bill Gatesβ Charities & Donations
Charity has become a huge part of Bill Gatesβ life.
The Gates Foundation support various initiatives to improve healthcare, education, reduce poverty and develop agriculture globally.
They have funded various projects to help fight infectious diseases, improve maternal health, develop vaccines and create economic opportunities.
Bill Gatesβ $200 Billion Donation Plan
In May 2025 Gates announced that he plans to give away virtually all of his remaining wealth to charity over the next two decades.
The foundation expect to spend around $200 billion between 2025 and 2045.
The foundation will close on 31st December 2045.
This is a huge part of Bill Gates long term financial planning.
His charitable donations are also a big reason why his personal wealth isnβt as high as it could have been if he had kept all of his original Microsoft stocks.
Is Bill Gates The Richest Person In The World?
Bill Gates is not the wealthiest person in the world in October 2026.
Whilst he was once ranked number one for several years, other tech entrepreneurs have overtaken him.
Bill Gates is ranked around number 16 in the world according to Forbes October 2026 list.
His rank can change depending on stock prices, investments and how much billionaires are worth.
However he is still one of the richest and most influential tech entrepreneurs in the world.
Interesting Facts About Bill Gates
1. Bill Gates Co-founded Microsoft.
Gates founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975.
2. Left Harvard University.
He left Harvard to focus on creating Microsoft.
3. Young Billionaire.
Bill Gates became one of the youngest self-made billionaires of his generation.
4. Supports healthcare globally.
Bill Gates has focused a lot of his charitable work on fighting disease and improving healthcare.
5. Plans to Give Away Most Of His Wealth.
Bill Gates has committed to giving away virtually all of his remaining wealth through his charitable initiatives by 2045.
Bill Gates Net Worth FAQs
What is Bill Gatesβ net worth in 2026?
Bill Gatesβ net worth is around $118.4 Billion in October 2026. This is according to Forbes real-time estimates.
How did Bill Gates become a billionaire?
Bill Gates became a billionaire primarily from Microsoft. He co-founded the company with Paul Allen in 1975.
Does Bill Gates still own any Microsoft stocks?
Yes, Bill Gates still owns a minority of Microsoft stocks. However, his stake is less than 1% according to Forbes.
How old is Bill Gates in 2026?
Bill Gates was born on 28th October 1955. In 2026 he will turn 71 years old.
Is Bill Gates richer than Elon Musk?
No. Elon Muskβs estimated wealth is much higher than Bill Gatesβ, according to October 2026 billionaire rankings.
Conclusion
Bill Gatesβ net worth in 2026 is estimated to be around $118.4 billion. This makes him one of the richest people in the world.
His wealth came from the success of Microsoft, alongside his diverse investments and financial assets.
Outside of business, Bill Gates has become an important global philanthropist. He has committed to fight disease, improve education and reduce poverty.
His story shows how technology, long-term investments, and donations can impact how rich a billionaire becomes.