How Bill Gates keeps getting richer

Bill Gates isn’t really that interested in money. He said, as reported by the Seattle Times: “I can understand about having millions of dollars. There's meaningful freedom that comes with that, but once you get much beyond that I have to tell you, it's the same hamburger.”

However, he keeps getting richer for two reasons.

First, the value of his Microsoft shares has kept going up. When Microsoft launched its IPO in 1986, Gates owned 45% of the company, and he was only worth $350 million. At today’s market cap of $860 billion, 45% would be worth $387 billion.

Second, he doesn’t even think about it. Since 1995, he has had a personal money manager called Michael Larson. It’s his job to make Gates richer, and he’s done it extremely well.

Gates has made a small number of investments outside that, but his main purpose has been to support biotech companies.

Gates doesn’t have any expensive hobbies like buying sports clubs and huge yachts (like Paul Allen) or sending rockets into space (like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos). He likes playing bridge with Warren Buffett, playing golf, and spending time with his family.

Gates and Buffett are worth around $90 billion each. Gates has given away about $35 billion and Buffett more than $46 billion.

For more on how to earn money: See How to earn $30-$50 per day