Rich people often like to splurge on luxury items to show their class and Bill Gates – the owner of the largest technology corporation on the planet is no exception.
According to Forbes, this billionaire is ranked 4th in terms of wealth with a net worth of 131.6 billion USD. He was also the richest man in the world from 1995 to 2017 every five years.
He spent a small portion of his vast fortune acquiring the finest private jets and cars. Famous for his Porsche car collection, he is truly a fan of the German car manufacturer to this day.
Not only that, but he also bought a number of luxury private jets to support his expensive travel.
Contrary to popular belief, Bill Gates does not own a yacht. In February 2020, the billionaire posted about the purchase of a hydrogen-powered superyacht worth US$645 million, but he has not yet operated it.
Take a look at the billionaire’s collection below:
Seaplane Cessna 208 Caravan
A Cessna Caravan cruising across the water.
Multiple reports confirm that Bill Gates owns a Cessna 208 Caravan seaplane. This one-of-a-kind aircraft was manufactured by the American aircraft manufacturer Cessna Aircraft Company, now a division of Textron Aviation.
The Cessna 208 Caravan is a rugged aircraft that comes in variants for humanitarian and military use, in addition to luxury travel.
The plane can reach a top speed of 344km/h and can carry 10-14 people, including crew. Powered by a jet engine, PT6A-114A propeller with a capacity of 675 horsepower, it can fly for a range of up to 1,982 km, with a maximum payload of 1,398 kg and a maximum take-off weight of 3,629 kg.
At the same time, the aircraft is not subject to high maintenance costs. Stable and realistic landing ability can take off on harsh terrain like gravel, grass or any rough ground besides normal runways.
Depending on the needs of the buyer, everything from the seats to the cockpit controls can be customized. Those seeking the ultimate in luxury can opt for the ‘Oasis’ interior, where the ergonomic chairs reflect a mastery of craftsmanship and design.
In addition to the standard features of the GARMIN G1000 NXi avionics suite, buyers can add advanced technology options such as the Garmin GSR 56 Iridium Transceiver and the KRA 405B Radar Altimeter.
Gulfstream G650
Gulfstream G650
According to reports, Bill Gates may own two Gulfstream G650s.
One of the world’s most luxurious private jets, the Gulfstream G650 can circumnavigate the world with just one stop. It comes in two variants – Gulfstream G650 and Gulfstream G650ER.
Gulfstream G650 has a maximum range of 12,964 km and Gulfstream G650ER can fly to a distance of 13,890 km. Both have a top speed of over 1,110 km/h. The Gulfstream G650 family of private jets holds more than 110 world speed records and its engines are powered by Rolls-Royce.
The interior is specially designed like never before in a luxury private jet. It is extremely spacious, some of the best seats and the most comfortable for a comfortable flight. Multiple configurations can create three to four living zones inside the jet. Seating capacity is up to 19 passengers, while 10 people can sleep in it, this again depends on configuration.
The aircraft uses fly-by-wire technology, so it has a semi-automatic and computer-controlled aircraft control system. Authorized pilots can rely on the Advanced Flight Visibility System (EFVS) to land aircraft in low visibility conditions where there is no natural line of sight.
Gulfstream is a subsidiary of the US aerospace and defense corporation General Dynamics.
Bombardier BD-700 Global Express
A Tyrolean Jet Services Bombardier BD-700 Global Express lands at Frankfurt Airport.
Two Bombardier BD-700 Global Express private jets are on the billionaire’s list of “toys”. Like the Gulfstream G650, this one belongs to the family of private jets designed for ultimate luxury. However, the Bombardier Global Express also has military variants.
Seating is the hallmark of all Bombardier Global Express private jets. Its chair is called “The Nuage”. The development of this jet took seven years of research, leading to the creation of a chair that redefines luxury in the air and revolutionizes functionality in a confined space.
Built by Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier Aviation, the jet has a maximum capacity of 19 passengers, plus a crew of 2-3. Its top speed is 950km/h. With a maximum take-off weight of 44,452kg, it can operate for a maximum range of about 11,550km.
Among the other aircraft in the family are the Global 550, Global 6500, Global 7500 and Global 8000 – each with different seating configurations, range, capacity and speed.
All of Global Express’s private jets are powered by GE engines.
Porsche Taycan
An electric car Porsche Taycan Turbo S.
Bill Gates revealed that he bought this all-electric car. In a conversation with YouTuber Marques Brownlee, he said: “I have to say it’s a high-priced car but the experience is great. This is also my first electric car and I love it.”
Porsche launched this car in September 2019. Around the time Bill Gates said he bought one, there were two variants of the car, the Turbo and the Turbo S. Today, there are eight of these cars, each with different specifications.
The Porsche Taycan is a powerful and equally beautiful car. The vehicle has dual electric motors, powered by a 93 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. Its range is between 305 and 360 km, depending on the variant, driving configuration and driving conditions.
Its top speed is in the range of 220-260 km/h. A Taycan can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 to 5.4 seconds, depending on the variant.
The interior has been created using “Race-Tex”, a microfiber material that contains partially recycled polyester fibers, in addition to recycled Econyl fibers, which are derived from fishing nets.
Furthermore, the vehicle can be configured according to the needs of the user. As a result, buyers can opt for a completely unupholstered interior, vintage leather or a sustainable leather Club Leather known as OLEA. The design of the touch screen control panel is inspired by the original Porsche 911 dashboard from 1963.
The car starts at $150,000 (RM362,000) but there’s a lower-end version worth $103,000 (RM344,000).
Porsche 911
A Porsche 911 Turbo S.
When Microsoft was starting to grow into a big company, Gates bought a used turquoise Porsche 911 in 1979. Although he has sold it now, the car is probably “his passion.” passion”, as he once said on The Ellen Show.
According to Time magazine, he used to race at high speed in the desert near Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Microsoft was headquartered in its early years. This reckless racer was released from jail by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.
Bill Gates told American businessman David Rubenstein in an interview with Bloomberg in 2016: “This is an incredible car.”
In 2012, his car was sold for $80,000, $30,000 more than expected, in an auction by Dorotheum Auction House, Austria.
The 911 is the crown jewel of the Porsche car family. Since the debut of the Porsche 911 and its phenomenal success, the automaker has created many variations of the outstanding car. These include the Turbo and GT3 models.
Speed is at the heart of the 911. Turbo S, one of the fastest engines, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 330 km/h.
Porsche 959
Only 337 Porsche 959s were produced during its existence.
The billionaire loved this car so much that he bought it from Europe knowing it wouldn’t be allowed to be imported into the US because it didn’t meet the country’s crash test requirements.
By many estimates, only 337 were built, after which it was no longer produced. The Porsche 959 features a biturbo engine and a water-cooled 4-valve cylinder head on a 1980s bodywork, inspired by the aerodynamically optimized 911.
Its chassis is electronically controlled, and the car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds.
It became so popular that many experts continue to praise its performance to this day.
Ferrari 348
A Ferrari 348 TS, which is a convertible version of the 348 TB.
This is a special model for Ferrari because the last V8 engine was developed by company founder Enzo Ferrari. According to Time magazine, this car became known as the “dune trolley” after Bill Gates turned it into the sand.
The two-seater supercar has made incredible history since its debut in 1989. More than 8,000 cars were produced until 1995.
The Ferrari 348 has had many models, including the Ferrari 348 TS, a convertible version of the 348 TB – both of which can reach a top speed of over 275 km/h.