Bill Gates Net Worth

Bill Gates has an estimated net worth of $118 billion, according to Forbes Real-Time Billionaires, Bill Gates profile (figures as of October 20, 2026). That is up from $96.5 billion in 2019.

Bill Gates is best known as the cofounder of Microsoft, the software company he started with Paul Allen in 1975. He left Harvard to build the business as personal computers began to spread. Gates later led Microsoft as CEO for 25 years and also served as president and chairman when the company was incorporated in 1981. His work at the company helped shape personal computing and made him one of the biggest names in technology.

His wealth is tied mainly to Microsoft, though Forbes says his stake is now less than 1% after he donated Microsoft shares worth billions to the trust that funds the Gates Foundation in 2022. In recent years, much of his public work has centered on philanthropy. He has donated more than $63.9 billion to the Gates Foundation, where he is now sole chairman. He has also spent nearly 2 decades and more than $1 billion backing TerraPower.

How Bill Gates built his fortune

Gates made his name and much of his money through Microsoft. He and Paul Allen started the company in 1975, betting that software would matter as personal computers reached more people. Gates had already been programming in high school and even took a break from classes during his senior year to work on software projects with Allen in North Bonneville, Washington. That early focus helped set up Microsoft’s long run in the technology business.

Over time, Gates stepped back from daily work at Microsoft and put more attention on philanthropy and other ventures. He served as chief software architect until 2008, stepped down as chairman in 2014, and resigned from the board in 2020. Forbes notes that he has donated more than $63.9 billion to the Gates Foundation. He also backs TerraPower, a nuclear power company that aims to complete its first reactor by 2030.

Forbes net worth updates

Forbes estimated Gates at $128 billion on its 2024 World’s Billionaires list, then $108 billion on the 2025 list. Forbes says Microsoft remains the main source of his wealth, but his ownership has changed a lot. After he donated Microsoft shares worth billions to the trust that funds the Gates Foundation in 2022, Forbes estimated that his Microsoft stake fell to less than 1%, which helps explain why his fortune is not just about direct stock ownership.

As of October 20, 2026, Forbes put Gates at $118 billion on its real-time billionaires tracker. That number sits above the $108 billion figure on the 2026 World’s Billionaires list. Forbes also describes him as focused on giving away his fortune, and he announced in 2025 that the foundation will shut down in 20 years. That mix of Microsoft wealth, major donations, and long-term investing shapes how his fortune is measured.