As of the latest dated figures available in the sources reviewed, Bill Gates’ net worth was estimated at approximately $116 billion by Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index on October 10, 2026. His fortune originated primarily from co-founding Microsoft and has since been diversified through investments managed by Cascade Investment and substantial charitable giving. In May 2025, Gates announced that he intended to give virtually all his remaining wealth to the Gates Foundation over the following 20 years, with the foundation scheduled to close on December 31, 2045.
Bill Gates Net Worth in 2026
Introduction
Bill Gates remains one of the world’s best-known technology billionaires, but his financial story is no longer just about Microsoft. His wealth reflects decades of software industry growth, investments across different sectors, and a long-running commitment to philanthropy.
The question of Bill Gates net worth in 2026 has a clear but important qualification: billionaire rankings are estimates, not audited statements of a person’s entire personal finances. Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index placed Gates’ estimated fortune at $116 billion as of October 10, 2026, ranking him 17th globally in that snapshot. The figure can change as asset values, exchange rates, and estimates of private investments change.
Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975. The company helped bring personal computing and software into homes and businesses around the world, creating the foundation for his fortune. Over time, Gates reduced his direct Microsoft ownership and diversified his assets. He also directed a substantial share of his resources toward global health, education, poverty reduction, and other charitable priorities.
His May 2025 announcement added another major dimension to the story: Gates said he would donate virtually all his remaining wealth over the next two decades, and the Gates Foundation would close at the end of 2045.
What Happened? Bill Gates’ Estimated Wealth in 2026
Bill Gates continues to rank among the world’s wealthiest people, even after years of charitable contributions and changes to his Microsoft holdings.
Bloomberg’s October 10, 2026, ranking listed his net worth at $116 billion. Forbes’ profile showed a different estimate of $114.8 billion as of September 10, 2026. These figures are not necessarily contradictory: they come from different estimates and dates, and each publisher uses its own methodology.
Estimated net worth · Bloomberg snapshot
$116 billion
Snapshot date
October 10, 2026
Global rank in that snapshot
No. 17
Primary source of wealth
Microsoft and investments
Source: Bloomberg Billionaires Index. This is an estimate, not a verified statement of total personal assets.
The estimate is useful for understanding the scale of Gates’ wealth, but it should not be interpreted as the amount of cash he has in a bank account. Net worth estimates generally combine the estimated value of investments and other assets, minus relevant liabilities.
Why can Bill Gates’ net worth change?
Billionaire rankings are affected by several factors:
- Investment performance: The value of publicly traded shares can rise or fall with the stock market.
- Private investments: Businesses and other assets that are not publicly traded require estimates of their value.
- Charitable donations: Transfers of personal wealth to charitable organizations can reduce an individual’s estimated fortune.
- Currency movements: Assets valued in different currencies can change in dollar terms when exchange rates move.
- Different methodologies: Bloomberg and Forbes may use different assumptions, valuations, and reporting dates.
Bloomberg explains that its index updates estimates on business days after the New York market closes, using public-market prices and its own analysis of private assets and other holdings. Forbes also operates a real-time billionaire ranking. As a result, the numbers can differ even when both publishers are making reasonable estimates.
Key Details About Bill Gates’ Wealth
The following points explain the main elements behind the Bill Gates fortune.
- Microsoft: Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, and the company’s growth was the original driver of his wealth.
- Diversified investments: Bloomberg says most of Gates’ fortune is derived from Cascade Investment, a holding company created using proceeds from Microsoft stock sales and dividends.
- Charitable giving: Gates has contributed significant resources to the Gates Foundation and has pledged to donate virtually all his remaining wealth by the end of 2045.
- Foundation timeline: The Gates Foundation plans to close permanently on December 31, 2045, following a period of accelerated spending.
- Estimated, not exact, wealth: The $116 billion figure is a dated estimate from Bloomberg, rather than a public accounting of every asset and liability Gates owns.
These details show why Gates’ wealth should be understood as a changing portfolio rather than a fixed amount.
Background: How Bill Gates Built His Fortune
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1. Co-founding Microsoft in 1975
Gates and his childhood friend Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft in 1975. They recognized the commercial potential of software as personal computers began to develop into an important market.
Microsoft built its business around software for computers, later expanding into operating systems, office productivity tools, enterprise software, cloud services, and other technology products. Its growth helped turn Gates into one of the world’s wealthiest entrepreneurs.
Gates attended Harvard University but left before completing his degree to focus on Microsoft. That decision became a defining part of his business history, although Microsoft’s growth depended on the work of many employees, executives, partners, and developers—not just its co-founder.
2. Microsoft’s public-market growth
Microsoft went public in 1986. The public listing gave investors an opportunity to buy shares and helped establish a market value for the company. As Microsoft expanded over subsequent decades, its growth and stock performance increased the value of Gates’ ownership.
Gates became a billionaire at a relatively young age and spent several years at or near the top of global wealth rankings. His fortune benefited from Microsoft’s business expansion, but it was also affected by share sales, donations, and later investment decisions.
3. Moving beyond Microsoft
Gates gradually shifted away from day-to-day management of Microsoft to focus on philanthropy and other projects. The Gates Foundation’s official biography says he transitioned to full-time foundation work in 2008. In 2020, he stepped down from Microsoft’s board, according to Forbes’ profile.
Although Microsoft remains central to the story of how Gates made his money, his current fortune should not be treated as though it were simply the value of a large Microsoft shareholding. Bloomberg’s profile identifies Cascade Investment as the primary source of his current wealth.
Where Does Bill Gates’ Money Come From Today?
Cascade Investment and diversified assets
Cascade Investment is a key part of Gates’ financial portfolio. Bloomberg describes it as a holding company created using proceeds from Microsoft stock sales and dividends. Its assets include investments in publicly traded companies, privately held businesses, real estate, energy, and other areas.
Diversification means that Gates’ wealth is not dependent on a single company’s stock price. It does not eliminate investment risk, however. The value of a diversified portfolio can still change with market conditions, business performance, interest rates, and other economic factors.
The exact composition of a private investment portfolio is not always publicly visible. Bloomberg’s estimates rely on analysis of available information about asset purchases, sales, taxes, and market performance. Its reported net worth should therefore be treated as an informed estimate rather than a complete, independently audited inventory of Gates’ personal holdings.
Does Bill Gates still own Microsoft shares?
Gates retains a connection to Microsoft, the company he co-founded, but his ownership is much smaller than it was during the company’s earlier growth. Forbes estimated that his Microsoft stake was below 1% after he donated billions of dollars’ worth of Microsoft shares to the trust that funds the Gates Foundation in 2022.
That distinction matters. Microsoft’s market value remains an important part of Gates’ business legacy, but it is misleading to calculate his current wealth by assuming he still owns the same proportion of Microsoft that he held decades ago.
Other business and technology interests
Gates also supports work outside Microsoft. His official Gates Foundation biography identifies Gates Ventures as his private office, with work spanning climate change, clean energy innovation, Alzheimer’s research, healthcare, education, and technology. It also identifies him as the founder of Breakthrough Energy, which supports the development of clean-energy technologies.
These activities reflect his continued interest in technology and innovation. However, the existence of a company, initiative, or investment does not automatically establish how much it contributes to his personal net worth. Reliable estimates depend on available financial evidence and valuation methods.
Bill Gates’ Philanthropy and His Plan to Give Away His Wealth
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One of the most important developments in the story of Bill Gates net worth is his decision to accelerate charitable giving.
The May 2025 announcement
On May 8, 2025, Gates announced that he intended to give away virtually all his remaining wealth over the next 20 years. The Gates Foundation said the plan would involve spending approximately $200 billion over that period and closing the foundation on December 31, 2045.
The announcement set a defined timeline for the foundation’s work. Its priorities include preventing avoidable deaths among mothers and children, fighting infectious diseases, and helping people escape poverty.
The commitment is substantial, but it does not mean that Gates’ net worth instantly fell by $200 billion in May 2025. The announced figure refers to planned giving and foundation spending over time. The timing and valuation of contributions matter when calculating his personal wealth at any particular date.
How much has the Gates Foundation given away?
The foundation reported that it had given away more than $100 billion between 2000 and 2025. Its stated plan is to give away about twice that amount over the following 20 years, including the remaining endowment and Gates’ pledged future contributions.
This is a measure of the foundation’s grantmaking and spending—not a direct calculation of Gates’ current personal net worth. The foundation has received support from Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett, among other sources and contributors.
The foundation’s financial structure also distinguishes its charitable operations from the investment assets that fund them. The Gates Foundation Trust holds the endowment, while Cascade Asset Management Company manages the investments. The foundation says this arrangement separates program decisions from investment decisions.
Why does Gates want to donate so much?
In his May 2025 announcement, Gates explained that he wanted to put more of his resources toward urgent problems rather than hold onto them for longer. His stated philanthropic goals focus on health, disease prevention, and reducing poverty.
This approach also illustrates an important difference between wealth and personal spending. A billionaire may have assets worth billions of dollars, but those assets can be tied up in investments, companies, property, and other holdings. Donating assets over time is different from immediately transferring an equivalent amount of cash.
What Officials and Organizations Have Said
The clearest statements about Gates’ wealth plans come from the organizations involved.
The Gates Foundation: Its official May 2025 announcement said the foundation planned to spend $200 billion over the next 20 years and cease operations at the end of 2045. The foundation presents the timeline as a way to accelerate progress on its core charitable priorities.
Bill Gates: In his own account of the plan, published through Gates Notes, Gates said he would donate virtually all his remaining wealth over the next two decades. He described the decision as part of the foundation’s final chapter.
Bloomberg: Its Billionaires Index identifies Cascade Investment as the main source of Gates’ current fortune and explains that its estimates incorporate analysis of investments and market performance.
These statements establish the broad direction of Gates’ wealth and philanthropy. They do not provide a complete public accounting of every personal asset, liability, future investment return, or future donation.
Why Bill Gates’ Net Worth Matters
Gates’ financial position matters for more than his place on a rich list. His career illustrates how ownership in a successful technology company can create enormous wealth, while his later charitable commitments show how some of that wealth can be redirected.
1. It reflects Microsoft’s long-term impact
Microsoft became a major force in personal computing and business software. Gates’ fortune demonstrates how a founder’s ownership can grow in value as a business expands globally. It also illustrates the difference between a company’s success and the portion of that success an individual still owns.
2. His investments show the importance of diversification
Gates’ fortune now extends beyond a direct stake in Microsoft. A diversified portfolio can spread exposure across different industries and asset types, although it cannot guarantee returns or prevent losses.
3. His donations can affect future wealth rankings
When Gates transfers assets to charitable organizations, the value of the assets he personally retains may decrease. At the same time, market gains or losses can move his net worth in either direction. That means his wealth could change even while he continues to donate.
4. His plan puts long-term philanthropy in focus
The commitment to spend down the foundation’s resources by 2045 creates a timeline for its future work. The results will depend on the quality of programs, partnerships, research, and delivery—not just on the size of the budget.
5. Net worth estimates need context
A published billionaire figure is not the same as an official personal financial statement. Comparing estimates responsibly means checking the date, the publisher, and the method used. Bloomberg’s $116 billion estimate for October 10, 2026, and Forbes’ $114.8 billion estimate for September 10, 2026, are useful snapshots, but they refer to different dates and methodologies.
What Happens Next?
There is no single future net-worth figure that can be confirmed today. Gates’ estimated fortune will continue to depend on market conditions, investment performance, asset sales, and charitable contributions.
Several developments are clearer:
- Continued philanthropy: Gates has committed to donating virtually all his remaining wealth over the next two decades.
- Foundation closure in 2045: The Gates Foundation has announced December 31, 2045, as its planned closing date.
- More spending on charitable priorities: The foundation expects to accelerate funding for global health, infectious disease prevention, and poverty reduction during this period.
- Ongoing changes in estimated wealth: Bloomberg and Forbes will continue to publish estimates based on their respective methods and available financial information.
The precise pace of future donations, future investment returns, and Gates’ net worth in any later year remain uncertain. His 2045 plan is a stated commitment, not a guarantee that markets or future valuations will follow a predictable path.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is Bill Gates’ net worth in 2026?
Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index estimated Bill Gates’ net worth at $116 billion on October 10, 2026. Forbes reported $114.8 billion on September 10, 2026. The difference reflects separate estimates and dates, and neither figure should be treated as an exact audited total.
2. How did Bill Gates make his money?
Gates made his original fortune by co-founding Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975. Microsoft’s growth in operating systems, productivity software, and business technology increased the value of his ownership. He later diversified his wealth into investments beyond Microsoft.
3. Does Bill Gates still own Microsoft?
Gates has substantially reduced his direct Microsoft ownership over the years. Forbes estimated that his stake was below 1% following major donations of Microsoft shares in 2022. His current wealth also includes investments held through Cascade Investment.
4. What is Bill Gates’ main source of wealth today?
Bloomberg identifies Cascade Investment as the main source of Gates’ current fortune. The investment company holds a diversified portfolio that includes publicly traded companies, private businesses, real estate, and energy-related assets.
5. Is Bill Gates giving away all his money?
Gates announced in May 2025 that he intends to donate virtually all his remaining wealth over the next 20 years. The plan is intended to support the Gates Foundation’s charitable work. The commitment concerns his remaining wealth over time, not an immediate transfer of his entire fortune.
6. When will the Gates Foundation close?
The Gates Foundation has announced that it plans to close permanently on December 31, 2045. It intends to spend down its resources over the intervening years to support its charitable goals.
7. How much money has the Gates Foundation given away?
The foundation reported that it gave away more than $100 billion between 2000 and 2025. It plans to give away approximately twice that amount over the following 20 years, including its remaining endowment and Gates’ pledged future contributions.
8. Will Bill Gates remain a billionaire after his donations?
That cannot be predicted with certainty. His net worth will depend on how much he donates, how his remaining investments perform, and how wealth trackers value his assets. His pledge to donate virtually all his remaining wealth does not establish an exact date when he might stop being a billionaire.
