Bill Gates' Net Worth Is Even Higher Than You May Think

It's no secret that Bill Gates is one of the richest men in the world, but you might be surprised to find out just how high his net worth actually is. On the heels of his announcement that he and wife Melinda Gates – who has a stunning net worth herself – have decided to divorce after 27 years together, many are wondering how their vast fortune will be divided between them. With opinions differing on whether or not they signed a prenuptial agreement — a 1997 New York Times article suggests yes, while TMZ claims the divorce filings say no — it's clear there's a lot of money at stake.

After making his first fortune co-founding Microsoft, Bill went on to become the richest person in the world for nearly two decades. Over those years, Investopedia reported that he's grown his vast wealth by investing in other companies like AutoNation, Coca-Cola, and Deere & Co. He's also expanded his real estate portfolio, bought several hotels, and even became the largest farmland owner in the United States in 2021. But how much does that all add up to?

According to Forbes, the tech entrepreneur is worth about $130.5 billion. The site reported that, over the course of a mere 24 hours, that number grew by about $600 million, showing just how fast his fortune can expand. It seems Bill Gates is making money faster than he can give it away — and he is giving it away. Forbes also stated that Gates donated $53.8 billion worth of Microsoft stock to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation alone. That's quite the number.

The outlet cited the Gates Foundation as the world's largest private charitable foundation. Per Investopedia, the organization held $49.9 billion in assets in 2019, and it's donated $54.8 billion since it was founded. It's clear the Gates' fortune is incredibly impressive, and there's no doubt the entrepreneur will retain his rank among the richest in the world even after the details of his divorce are ironed out.