Gateway to wealth: villa of Bill Gates

Bill Gates; once the richest man in the world, he currently occupies a modest fourth spot on the list of richest people in the world with a wealth of 107 billion euros. Despite this billionaire's vast wealth, Gates has stayed close to home with his home in Medina, near his hometown in Seattle. MASTERS takes a look inside Bill Gates' unique home that goes by the name Xanadu 2.0.Text: Fleur de Jong

300 construction workers

Gates' house is named after the fictional home of Charles Foster Kane in the movie Citizen Kane. Xanadu 2.0 is made of 500-year-old Douglas fir. A total of 300 construction workers were needed to create the 66,000 square feet of living space, including 100 electricians. The house consists of seven bedrooms and 24 bathrooms. In addition to the many bathrooms, the house has a total of six kitchens. So in this house Gates has enough space to welcome some guests. Fortunately, the 2,300-square-meter reception hall offers enough space for 200 people. 

Then, when you arrive as a guest, you receive a PIN that interacts with sensors throughout the house. Guests set their temperature and lighting preferences, changing the settings as they walk through the house. The temperature and lighting are not the only things you can adjust as a guest. Computer screens throughout the house also allow guests to display their favorite paintings or photos.

Trampoline room

Also attached to the house is an 18-meter-long swimming pool, in which you can swim under a sheet of glass through which you emerge onto the terrace. There is a sauna, a steam room and separate dressing rooms for men and women. There is also a 1,500-square-foot art deco theater and a one-bedroom guesthouse where Gates reportedly wrote his book The Road Ahead wrote while the main building was still under construction. Another unique feature is the house's trampoline room with a 20-foot-high ceiling. 

The house also contains a large library with two secret bookcases, in which a bar is hidden. However, the bar is not the only gem found in this library. In fact, the library also houses the Codex Leicester, a 16th-century Leonardo da Vinci manuscript that Gates bought at auction in 1994 for 25 million euros. 

Bill Gates' eye candy is reportedly a 40-year-old maple tree in his yard. And this wouldn't be the home of a Microsoft founder if even this tree is watered with the help of a computer. This way, the plant never dries out and is automatically watered. 

The value of this unique property is estimated at about 102 million euros.

Recently Gates announced his divorce from his wife Melinda. Despite the 66,000 square feet of space, Gates does not seem to be able to avoid his ex-wife in this huge home. So currently the billionaire resides in his other home at the very exclusive golf club, Vintage Club in Indian Wells. Gates reportedly spent 10 million euros on this house with nine bathrooms and six bedrooms. Photo: Facebook | The Vintage ClubRead here an article to find out what the rich are doing for the climate.