Xanadu 2.0 – a super mansion worth up to 124 million USD is just one of many houses owned by the co-founder of Microsoft. It is not surprising that up to now, this place is still among the most expensive houses in the world.
Becoming a billionaire at the age of 31, up to now, Bill Gates still owns a huge net worth of up to 101.1 billion USD, according to Forbes on November 8, 2022. Although before that, in 2020, he left the Microsoft board of directors and only owned about 1.3% of the software and computer company’s shares.
Besides that, Gates also invests in dozens of companies including Republic Services and Deere & Co., and is one of the largest owners of agricultural land in the US.
To date, he has donated more than $59 billion to the Gates Foundation, including a $20 billion sum announced in July 2022. Most of his initial donations were gifts of Microsoft stock .
In daily life, Bill Gates is famous for being a simple person who does not like to spend money on lavish and wasteful places. However, he owns one of the most expensive real estate on the planet. After cutting costs, his biggest purchase was this $124 million Seattle mansion.
Called Xanadu 2.0 by Gates and his family, the mansion is an incredible innovation in architecture with amenities everywhere. Let’s find out what’s special inside this expensive real estate.
It took 7 years of “conception” and construction
Since Bill Gates was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 and raised in Seattle, and later also opened Microsoft’s headquarters in the same city, it’s no surprise that this tycoon wanted to build a massive mansion in his hometown.
In 1988, he bought lakeside land for $2 million and spent seven years building the 66,000 square foot dream home the family wanted. According to Business Insider, he spent $63 million on construction costs and named it Xanadu 2.0 – derived from the fictional home of Charles Foster Kane in Citizen Kane.
Project under construction.
Bill Gates not only spent money on construction but also bought neighboring properties for $14 million to ensure the family had plenty of private space around.
Impressive space
The interior of Xanadu 2.0 was designed by French architect Thierry Despont, an architect who contributed to the restoration of the Statue of Liberty in the 1980s. This super mansion has 7 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms and 6 kitchens. Each kitchen is located in a corner, making it easily accessible for everyone.
The main dining room can seat 200, while a more intimate room seats 24 with a fireplace. Additionally, the mansion has a 25,000 square foot steam room, sauna, and gym.
Xanadu 2.0 has great views of Lake Washington.
As a lover of art and literature, Bill Gates pays special attention to ensuring works of art and books are displayed perfectly. The painting is projected on a wall-mounted computer screen to create a sharp frame.
Yahoo Finance said Gates has a 2,100 square foot library with a reading dome, adapted from the novel The Great Gatsby. The room also holds famous works of art such as Leonardo Da Vinci’s Codex Leicester, which was purchased for $30.8 million at auction.
Additionally, the residence features a reception hall, a home theater for 20 people, and a 10-person jacuzzi on the pool deck.
The mansion has a large library with a domed screen using virtual reality technology, allowing you to easily select your favorite titles.
Nature combined with technology
Bill Gates has combined many elements and ecosystems to create a peaceful home. A large fish tank is placed in the living room to preserve rare marine creatures. Outdoors, the house has a 60m-long swimming pool, according to The Sun. The media also said that the billionaire created an artificial beach using sand imported from Hawaii.
The billionaire also has a favorite 40-year-old maple tree that is electronically watered every 24 hours. Maple trees grow near the driveway and are monitored by computer. Whenever the soil is too dry, water is automatically pumped in.
The house has an artificial stream, creating a natural habitat for raising salmon. Tall trees surround the land to regulate the temperature, keeping the outdoor atmosphere pleasant.
In particular, security is always paramount to the Gates family. The super mansion has strict security procedures with an integrated IT system. Guests coming to the house need to scan the electronic pin code. This technology also manages room temperature and plays music from inside the walls according to a pre-installed system.
The house’s entrance is through a private tunnel built in 2006. This tunnel connects the mansion to Highway 106 so that family guests can easily enter the house. Visitors can walk up the 84 steps to the ground floor or simply take the elevator from the entrance.
