By Kelsi Karruli
In the '90s, the tech mogul bought up numerous properties that bordered his primary residence.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates speaks at an event in Stockholm, Sweden, on Jan. 22, 2026.
Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates appears to be trimming back his famed Washington compound-listing a home that sits next to his sprawling Xanadu 2.0 dwelling for $4.8 million, just months after insisting he would &#34;never downsize&#34; the enormous property.
The 70-year-old Microsoft (MSFT) founder put a four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom Medina, Wash., dwelling 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 wedding his now ex-wife Melinda French Gates.
It is 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.
The home that Gates has now 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.
&#34;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,&#34; 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, &#34;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.&#34;
&#34;Adjoining the dining room is a cozy kitchen with new stainless-steel appliances and granite counter-tops,&#34; 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 &#34;easily double as a rec room, office, or creative space&#34; and come complete with their own fireplaces.
A large laundry room also offers more storage space.
According to the listing, &#34;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.&#34;
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.
&#34;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,&#34; 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.
Bill Gates watches the women's tennis doubles final at the 2026 Australian Open on Jan. 31, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia.
His former spouse, Melinda, was grilled about the references to her ex during an interview with NPR's &#34;Wild Card&#34; podcast, which premiered Feb. 5, and while she refused to comment on specific details, she admitted that she finds it &#34;hard&#34; to deal with the scandal so publicly.
&#34;For me, it's personally hard whenever those details come up,&#34; she shared. &#34;Brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage.&#34;
She also noted that it is her former husband, not her, who needs to answer the questions that have arisen about his relationship with Epstein.
&#34;Whatever questions remain there of what I don't-can't even begin to know all of it-those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband. They need to answer to those things, not me,&#34; she said.
Gates has vehemently denied that he had any knowledge of or involvement in Epstein's &#34;illegal activities,&#34; saying in a statement released by his spokesperson that he &#34;unequivocally denies any improper conduct related to Epstein and the horrible activities in which Epstein was involved.&#34;
&#34;Mr. Gates never visited Epstein's island, never attended parties with him, and had no involvement in any illegal activities associated with Epstein,&#34; the statement added.
Gates and his former wife, who share three children, announced in 2021 that they were ending their marriage of 27 years.
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.
More from Realtor.com: I'm a Serial Renovator-Here's How I Transformed My Midcentury Modern Living Room for Around $5K
Gates' daughter, Jennifer, a talented equestrian was gifted the horse farm in New York, and it's thought that she is also running the property in Wellington and the ranch in California as part of her Evergates Stables business.
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.
Bill Gates and his daughter Phoebe in 2022.
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 &#34;Citizen Kane.&#34;
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 &#34;mistake I most regret.&#34;
For much of their marriage, the former couple lived inside Gates' 66,000-square-foot &#34;Xanadu 2.0&#34; compound.
It was there 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.
More from Realtor.com: Here's How Much You Need To Earn To Buy a Home in the Most Affordable Cities
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.
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.
&#34;My house in Seattle, I admit, is gigantic,&#34; he said. &#34;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.&#34;
More from Realtor.com: Americans Are Getting Crushed by Utility Costs. These Governors Say They Have a Plan Stop the Squeeze.
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.
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.
More from Realtor.com: Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Ex-Wife Sarah Ferguson Are Officially Evicted From Royal Lodge Amid Latest Jeffrey Epstein Scandal
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.
&#34;I have three houses. I used to fly coach and make people share hotel rooms and think having a private plane was a waste,&#34; he said.
This story originally ran on Realtor.com.
This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones &amp; Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
02-09-26 0503ET

Billionaire Bill Gates has listed his four-bedroom home in Medina, Washington, for $4.8 million, adjacent to his primary residence, Xanadu 2.0. Gates purchased the property in 1995 for $1 million. The home features luxury amenities, including sweeping views and a spacious open floor plan. This listing comes amid personal challenges for Gates, as he faces scrutiny related to his past associations, particularly with Jeffrey Epstein. Despite the sale, Gates still owns multiple properties in the area.

Billionaire Bill Gates lists 4-bedroom home outside Seattle for $4.8 million, right next door to his estate