MW Buyer snaps up a $4.8 million home next to Bill Gates' Xanadu 2.0 estate

By Kelsi Karruli

Gates has owned the property since 1995, but probably never lived in it

Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates at an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of Microsoft in Redmond, Wash., in 2025.

Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates has found a buyer for the charming home next to his sprawling Xanadu 2.0 dwelling-just six days after listing the property for $4.8 million.

The 70-year-old Microsoft $(MSFT)$ founder put a four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom Medina, Wash., abode on the market on Feb. 5, 2026, property records show. Gates has owned the home since 1995, when he purchased it for $1 million, just one year after his wedding to now ex-wife Melinda French Gates.

By Feb. 11, the dwelling went into contract and is now pending sale, as per property records. It is unclear how much the billionaire agreed to sell the home for.

It is also unclear whether Gates ever actually lived in the home, which spans 2,780 square feet, or whether he purchased it in a bid to protect the privacy of his legendary Xanadu 2.0 estate, which he began building in the late 1980s, continuing to reside in the dwelling even after his 2021 divorce.

Between 1990 and 1997, the tech mogul bought up numerous properties that bordered his primary residence, which is now believed to be worth more than $130 million. He sold one of those homes for $4.85 million in 2024 after it spent just days on the market.

However, records show that Gates still owns at least two homes, as well as several vacant parcels of land around Xanadu 2.0. All of the properties-including the listed residence-are registered to the same LLC, according to property records seen by Realtor.com$(R)$.

The home that Gates put on the market, which is listed with Kim Florence of John L. Scott Real Estate - Mercer Island, certainly doesn't boast the same extraordinary amenities as his personal dwelling, however it boasts a number of luxury features designed to impress even the most discerning of homebuyers.

"Nestled into one of Medina's most coveted hillsides, this charming home quietly invites you in before revealing its showstopper: sweeping 180 degree lake, city and mountain views. The property borders a wooded open space, offering rare privacy and the perfect blend of forest and lake views," the listing reads.

From the outside, the home is as charming as can be as it boasts a stone pathway and olive green paneling.

Upon entering the abode, guests are greeted with a large space with an open floor plan that is accentuated by the arches in the walls.

The living area features a large window that allows natural light to flood inside and a cozy fireplace.

The listing adds, "Settle beside the living room fireplace with a good book or simply get lost in the mesmerizing view. The dining room opens onto an expansive outdoor space, ideal for entertaining."

"Adjoining the dining room is a cozy kitchen with new stainless-steel appliances and granite counter-tops," as per the listing.

The primary suite is nothing short of luxury thanks to its French doors that open up to a private deck that offers panoramic views to the southwest, a walk-in closet, and an updated bathroom.

Downstairs, there are three other bedrooms that are just as chic and can "easily double as a rec room, office, or creative space" and come complete with their own fireplaces.

A large laundry room also offers more storage space.

According to the listing, "With lake views and sliders to the flat backyard, it's the kind of lower level that makes you forget you are in a basement."

Although the interior of the property is lavish, the exterior certainly steals the show because of its sweeping views of the water and lush greenery.

"Perhaps the most compelling feature of this property is its dual personality: a pristinely maintained ode to a bygone era, yet full of potential for the next chapter. Will you keep its lovely charm, or capitalize on the extraordinary possibilities," adds the listing.

The home's listing comes at something of a difficult time for Gates, who was named in several emails released as part of the latest tranche of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files.

His former spouse, Melinda, was grilled about the references to her ex during an interview with NPR's "Wild Card" podcast, which premiered Feb. 5, and while she refused to comment on specific details, she admitted that she finds it "hard" to deal with the scandal so publicly.

Gates has vehemently denied that he had any knowledge of or involvement in Epstein's "illegal activities," saying in a statement released by his spokesperson that he "unequivocally denies any improper conduct related to Epstein and the horrible activities in which Epstein was involved."

"Mr. Gates never visited Epstein's island, never attended parties with him, and had no involvement in any illegal activities associated with Epstein," the statement added.

Gates and his former wife, who share three children, announced in 2021 that they were ending their marriage of 27 years.

Bill Gates and Melinda Gates in 2018.

At the time of their split, the former couple owned multiple properties, including a beach house in Del Mar, Calif., which they purchased for $43 million in 2020; an equestrian ranch in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., which they bought in 2014, paying $18 million; two horse farms-one in Wellington, Fla., and one in upstate New York; and a $12.5 million property in Indian Wells, Calif.

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Gates and Melinda met in 1987 during a Microsoft sales meeting when Melinda was a product manager and he was CEO.

The pair then tied the knot on New Year's Day in 1994 and went on to welcome their three children.

Microsoft mogul Gates-who is currently the 17th richest man in the world with a net worth of $105 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, has previously opened up about his love for his Xanadu 2.0 estate, which was named for a fictional mansion featured in the movie "Citizen Kane."

In a wide-ranging interview with The Times, Gates candidly spoke out about his May 2021 split from Melinda, to whom he had been married for 27 years, describing the divorce as the "mistake I most regret."

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For much of their marriage, the former couple lived inside Gates' 66,000-square-foot compound in Medina, Wash., which is referred to as "Xanadu 2.0" in a reference to a fictional estate that features in the movie "Citizen Kane."

It was here that the duo raised their three children, Phoebe, 23, Rory, 26, and Jennifer, 29, all of whom have since spread their wings and moved into their own homes.

But though the home that once served as a base for his family is no longer occupied by his children or his former wife, Gates told the outlet that he cannot ever see himself moving to a smaller property, particularly given that his three kids still enjoy visiting their childhood home whenever possible.

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Furthermore, the tech billionaire says he's grown accustomed to his new life inside the walls of the property, enjoying the small freedoms that come from living alone.

"My house in Seattle, I admit, is gigantic," he said. "My sisters have downsized. I can't. I like the houses I have. My kids like to come back-that is a luxury. 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."

The Microsoft founder purchased the expansive property in 1988 for just $2 million and then poured an estimated $63 million into renovating it, turning the home into an ultramodern oasis fit for a tech titan.

The home is now believed to be worth an eye-watering $130 million, according to Fortune.

The property features seven bedrooms, six kitchens, 24 bathrooms, and six fireplaces. It also boasts a private library and a 17-by-60-foot swimming pool that has its own underwater music system.

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The opulent abode also comes complete with a theater room, sauna, party space, steam room, separate men's and women's lockers, a trampoline room with a 20-foot ceiling, offices, and outdoor sports courts.

It is a far cry from the humble middle-class family that Gates was brought up in-and he admits that there was a time when even he could not have foreseen the lavish lifestyle that now seems so normal to him.

This story originally ran on Realtor.com.

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February 24, 2026 05:04 ET (10:04 GMT)

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