Billionaire tech-giant Bill Gates isn’t following the typical empty-nester playbook. While many parents downsize once their children move out, the Microsoft co-founder remains firmly rooted in Xanadu 2.0, his sprawling $130 million Lake Washington estate.
Not even his divorce from Melinda French Gates, one that he recently said he regrets, was enough to get him to move from the property.
The Mansion
More than just a home, the 66,000-square-foot property, located on nearly 11 acres, is a reflection of his technological vision, investment savvy, and unique approach to luxury living.
“My house in Seattle, I admit, is gigantic. My sisters have downsized. I can’t. I like the houses I have,” Gates told The Times in an interview about his memoir, “Source Code: My Beginnings.”
Originally purchased in 1988 for $2 million, the property underwent a seven-year, $63 million transformation, evolving into a technological marvel.
By 2018, Seattle’s King County public assessor’s office valued the estate at $127.484 million.
Xanadu 2.0 is more than just a high-end residence—it’s a fully integrated technological ecosystem. The mansion features six kitchens, 24 bathrooms, and seven bedrooms, with advanced sensor technology allowing guests to personalize room settings with electronic pins. Lighting, temperature, and music adjust automatically, tailoring the environment to individual preferences.
The home’s innovations extend far beyond its walls. According to TheStreets.com, an artificial stream stocked with salmon helps manage environmental runoff, while a computer-monitored maple tree near the driveway receives automated watering when conditions become too dry.
Even the beachfront beside Gates’ home stands apart—it’s covered with sand imported annually from the Caribbean via barge from St. Lucia, according to SCMP.com.
Inside, the estate seamlessly blends luxury with cutting-edge tech. Hidden speakers embedded in the walls ensure music follows inhabitants throughout the house. The 17-by-60-foot swimming pool even has an underwater sound system, allowing for a fully immersive experience, Fortune reports.
But for all its technological advancements, Xanadu 2.0 remains a place of family connection.
“My kids like to come back—that is a luxury,” Gates said, emphasizing the emotional value that makes the home more than just an extravagant asset.
The library, a centerpiece of the estate, houses thousands of books, including a rare Leonardo da Vinci manuscript. The design, however, has been polarizing. Gates’ ex-wife, Melinda, famously called the home “a bachelor’s dream and a bride’s nightmare,” a sentiment that seems fitting given its unconventional layout and tech-heavy focus.
She might have had a point.
Now single, Gates has admitted, “I don’t cook, I don’t make my own bed, but I don’t mind if no one has made it—I wouldn’t notice.”
Beyond its living spaces, the property offers an array of unique features. A trampoline room, an indoor pool, sports courts, and a sauna add to its appeal, while its construction required 500 Douglas fir trees and took hundreds of workers seven years to complete.
The estate’s name, Xanadu 2.0, is an ironic nod to “Citizen Kane,” a film critiquing the emptiness of wealth.
His decision to stay isn’t just sentimental or a way to hold onto his pre-divorce life—it’s a calculated move. As the property continues to appreciate, Gates’ mansion remains not just a home, but a symbol of his relentless pursuit of technological excellence and smart investing.