As of July 2025, Bill Gates’ net worth is estimated at approximately $117 billion, according to Forbes. His wealth primarily stems from his Microsoft shares, currently around 1.4% of the company (about 103 million shares valued at $38 billion), and a diversified investment portfolio managed through Cascade Investments, which includes stakes in companies like Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Berkshire Hathaway, and Ecolab, as well as significant real estate holdings, such as 275,000 acres of U.S. farmland.
Recent reports indicate fluctuations in his net worth due to substantial charitable donations to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with a notable $51 billion reduction in July 2025 reflecting his accelerated giving. Gates has pledged to donate 99% of his fortune by 2045, with the Foundation having already given over $100 billion and planning to distribute another $200 billion by its closure in 2045. This has caused his ranking to drop to 12th or 13th among the world’s richest, per Bloomberg and Forbes.
His 2021 divorce from Melinda French Gates also impacted his wealth, with an estimated $25-$29 billion settlement transferred to her. Despite these reductions, Gates remains a centibillionaire, with investments in philanthropy-focused ventures like Breakthrough Energy and TerraPower, alongside luxury assets like his $147 million Seattle mansion and a private jet collection.
