Quick answer: what is bill gates networth? As of 2025 reports from Forbes and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the Microsoft co-founder was estimated to be worth somewhere around $100 billion to $130 billion, which is lower than his peak and keeps him well within the world’s top dozen or so richest people. Both lists update daily, so the live figure will differ.
Why his fortune is not growing like others
You might expect Gates to rank first, as he did for many years in the 1990s and 2000s. He no longer does for a simple reason: he gives a great deal away. Gates has donated tens of billions of dollars to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, now called the Gates Foundation, and in May 2025 he announced that the foundation would spend about $200 billion over the next two decades and then close in 2045, according to widespread reports. That plan implies his wealth will drop significantly over time.
Where the money sits
- Cascade Investment. His private investment firm, which holds stakes in a wide range of companies including railroads, hotels and farmland, according to public reporting.
- Microsoft shares. He owns only a small percentage of the company now after selling and donating most of his stake over the years.
- Real estate and other holdings. Property in several places and other investments.
Because he diversified long ago, his net worth is less tied to Microsoft’s share price than it once was, which dampens swings.
A brief timeline
- 1975. Gates and Paul Allen found Microsoft.
- 1986. The company goes public, which turned him into a very wealthy man within a few years.
- 2000. He steps down as CEO and later focuses on philanthropy.
- 2008. He leaves full-time work at Microsoft.
- 2020. He leaves the board of Microsoft.
- 2025. He announces the foundation’s wind-down plan.
What is bill gates networth compared with other billionaires?
In 2025 reports, the top of the rankings was dominated by people such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison and Bernard Arnault, many of whom hold large stakes in highly valued tech or luxury companies. Gates is often listed several places behind them, though still far above almost everyone. Ranking positions change with market prices, so check a live list. The Forbes real-time list is a good place to look, and the beginner guides at InvisionFree explain how such lists work.
Why Forbes and Bloomberg do not agree
The two lists use different methods for valuing private holdings and handling taxes, cash and gifts. They can differ by several billion dollars for the same person on the same day. Neither has access to his private accounts, so both are informed estimates built on filings and reporting.
Giving and the numbers
Gates has said publicly that he intends to give away nearly all of his wealth. The Giving Pledge, which he and Warren Buffett launched in 2010, encourages billionaires to commit most of their fortune to charity. Because donations are counted differently by various lists, the fall in his estimated wealth does not always match his giving in a straightforward way. Investment growth can offset donations, at least in part.
Reading the number without being misled
When you see a headline saying a billionaire lost or gained billions in a day, remember that the figure is mostly based on stock prices. It does not mean cash left an account. For Gates, whose holdings are diversified and partly in private assets, daily swings tend to be smaller than for founders with most of their wealth in one stock. Still, estimates of private holdings are rough, and they only change when new information surfaces.
It also helps to know that large gifts do not always show up immediately in rankings, since donations to the foundation are often made in stages, and the lists may record them with a lag. This is another reason that two reputable sources can show different totals for the same day.
A quick note on his philanthropy
The Gates Foundation has focused on global health, including vaccines and efforts against malaria and polio, as well as education and poverty. Its endowment also includes gifts from Warren Buffett. Whatever you think of the foundation’s approach, the scale of the giving is a big reason the net worth figure looks the way it does.
FAQ
Is he still on the top ten?
In several 2025 snapshots he was close to the edge of the top ten, though positions move.
Does he still own Microsoft stock?
Yes, but a small share of the company, per filings and reports.
Where does his income come from now?
Mainly from investment returns through Cascade and other holdings.
Is the number exact?
No. It is an estimate that changes daily.
Figures are estimates from public reporting, not financial advice.
