Bill Gates Net Worth: How Much is the Gates Foundation Chairman Worth in April 2025?

You don't accidentally become one of the richest humans on Earth. And Bill Gates? He didn't just ride the personal computing wave, he helped invent it.

The Harvard dropout-turned-tech titan co-founded Microsoft in 1975, and what followed was a decades-long run of innovation, dominance, and world-shaping software. Gates stepped back from Microsoft's day-to-day operations years ago, but he's remained a fixture on the global wealth leaderboard. These days, he's traded code for causes as chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,  the world's largest private charitable organization and continues to make headlines for both his giving and his ever-expanding investment portfolio.

But make no mistake: the man may have stepped away from the boardroom, but his net worth still moves markets.

What is Bill Gates' Net Worth in April 2025?

As of April 2025, Bill Gates is worth $104.6 billion, according to Forbes' Real-Time Billionaires List, ranking him #14 richest person in the world. That's after donating tens of billions over the years  including a historic $20 billion donation to the Gates Foundation in 2022.

Even after years of large-scale philanthropy, Gates remains a heavyweight. His fortune isn't just built on Microsoft stock anymore. He's diversified across dozens of companies through his investment firm Cascade Investment LLC, including stakes in Republic Services, Deere & Co., Ecolab, and even Four Seasons Hotels. In short: he's not just the Microsoft guy anymore, he's a full-blown investing mogul with a philanthropic megaphone.

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How Much Microsoft Stock Does Bill Gates Still Own?

Back in the day, Gates owned a massive stake in Microsoft. But after stepping down from the board in 2020 and giving away shares by the billions, his holdings have slimmed down considerably. As of 2025, he owns less than 1% of Microsoft's outstanding shares.

That said, even a small slice of Microsoft (a company with a $2.5+ trillion market cap) is still worth a staggering sum. In March 2020, his Microsoft stake stood at 1.3%. Since then, much of that has been donated, mostly to fund the Gates Foundation's global health and education work.

How Does Bill Gates Make Money Now?

Today, Gates’ wealth isn't driven by coding or corporate salaries, it's investment income. His Cascade Investment firm, managed by trusted advisors, controls tens of billions in assets across sectors. From energy to waste management to hotels, Gates' empire generates cash quietly and steadily.

Despite his net worth exceeding $100 billion, Gates has long claimed that money, past a certain point, has no utility to him. He's more interested in impact and using wealth as a lever for solving real-world problems.

How Does Bill Gates’ Net Worth Compare to Other Billionaires?

In the tech world, Gates is still elite, but no longer at the very top of the leaderboard. Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos now jockey for first place, with net worths in the $200-$300 billion range. 

Unlike some of his billionaire peers, Gates stepped away from his company early, gave away massive chunks of his wealth, and still came out a billionaire. That alone puts him in rare company.

He's also richer than other high-profile tech leaders like Sundar Pichai (Alphabet CEO, ~$1.3 billion) and Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO, ~$1.4 billion). While those execs are compensated with stock, Gates built Microsoft from scratch and his legacy reflects it.

How Does Bill Gates Spend His Money, and Does He Donate to Charity?

You won't see Bill Gates flexing a fleet of Lambos or building a rocket to Mars. His home in Medina, Washington, nicknamed "Xanadu 2.0", is technologically lavish, but it's no gold-plated megamansion.

Instead, Gates is one of the most prolific philanthropists in history. He's donated over $59 billion to the Gates Foundation, funding global initiatives in vaccines, public health, sanitation, and education. And he's not done, his 2022 gift of $20 billion is just part of his plan to eventually give away the vast majority of his wealth.

Beyond the foundation, he's a member of the Giving Pledge, a commitment by billionaires to donate most of their wealth during their lifetimes. In interviews, he's said he plans to leave only a modest portion to his children, aiming to raise them with values rather than trust fund cushions.

What's Next for Bill Gates?

At 69 years old, Gates is focused less on business and more on global impact. He continues to write books, speak on pandemic preparedness, and champion sustainable energy. And despite stepping away from Microsoft, his opinion still carries weight in tech circles and even the stock market listens when he speaks.

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