What would your house look like if you were the richest person in the world? A couple of pools, 10 kitchens, and a room dedicated to chocolate – you would probably run out of ideas before you ran out of money. Or, as you vie for that richest in the world title, you could look to the current richest man in the world, Bill Gates, for some home improvement inspiration.
Boasting a net worth of over $90 billion, it should not be surprising that Bill Gates boasts a mega-mansion which casts every other mansion, home and shack into the shade. Nicknamed Xanadu 2.0 after the fictional home in Citizen Kane, the 66,000 sq. ft. Lake Washington home took seven years and over $60 million to build.
As co-founder of tech giant Microsoft, it is again no surprise that Gates has packed his crib with some of the most amazing and advanced tech in the world today. So much tech is incorporated in fact, that the house features an estate wide-server system to handle all the gadgets.
Looking at what that server has to handle, CBR runs down seven of the most amazing tech gadgets in the Gates’ homestead.
Gates doesn’t just clean up for guests, he changes his whole house
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1. Gates – The Host With the Most
When you are expecting guests, hosts usually put on the charm, clean up and do everything in their power to make visitors relaxed and comfortable. For us mere mortals that may involve a nice dinner, a run around with the hoover before they arrive – for Bill Gates it means literally changing the temperature, lighting and music to a guest’s preference.
On arrival, guests to Xanadu 2.0 are given a pin containing there preferences for temperature, lighting and music. The pin interacts with sensors located all over the house, so as guests walk through the house, everything changes to their preference. Certainly beats a cheeseboard.
What do you do if you are a billionaire and bored with the Picasso?
2. Art Lovers Paradise
Ever thought that you were tired of that Van Gogh and wished you could replace it with a Monet? No, me neither, but at Bill Gates’ house at least you have the choice.
Storage devices and computer screens worth hundreds of thousands are located around the house, with anyone able to change the screens to their favourite artwork of pictures at the touch of a button.
Gates’ gives a solution to guests with water-logged iPods
3. Rock n’ Roll Swimming
Every mansion needs a pool – think it’s a rule – and Gates’ home does not disappoint. The 60-foot swimming pool boasts an underwater music system for those who like to do lanes to a beat.
The pool is located in its own separate 3,900-square-foot building and swimmers can also access a terrace area by swimming under a glass wall. If you require more exercise than what a 60-foot swimming pool can give you, you can also go to the homes’ 2,500-square-foot (230 m2) gym.
How does Gates’ keep his fave house plant alive?
4. The tree saved by tech
Word is that Bill Gates became a fan of a 40-year-old maple tree which was starting to encroach on the driveway of Xanadu 2.0. Instead of cutting it down, Gates’ tapped into what he does best – tech. To preserve the life of the tree it is constantly monitored around the clock, with water automatically pumped to it if it gets too dry. Oh to be a tree on Gates’ driveway!
Gates looks to the underground to slash the home’s carbon footprint
5. Saving the planet one home at a time
Bill Gates is a renowned philanthropist and is known for his support of sustainability and climate change issues. Practicing what he preaches, he made sure that his home was as green as could be, making it an ‘earth-sheltered’ house. This essentially means that the house is built into its surroundings, with the architectural practice seeing earth built against walls. Having the house built in this way aims to slash its carbon footprint and improve the regulation of temperature.
What does Gates’ man cave look like?
6. Gates Man Cave
To be honest, what with the tech, it could be argued that the entire house is Gates’ man cave, although the garage could hold a another refuge for the tech billionaire. Not content with just one, Gates’ actually has several garages scattered throughout the estate.
The most interesting one, however, is the one that has been built underground with concrete and stainless steel. Apparently, that garage can park up to 10 cars, with the concrete smashed up to give a rough ‘deconstructivist’ look. The garage is probably better than my entire house – which is depressing.
Maybe Gates’ has some room in the next property?
7. Where it all started
The tech found in the main house was actually tested first in the guest house – a 1,900-square-foot building which was the first to be completed on the estate. The guest house, which has its own bedroom and bathroom, acted as the testing ground for most of the tech now found in the main house.
If Bill Gates is reading, I would be very much happy with just the guest house if you have any vacancies.
