Centibillionaire Bill Gates’s marital status may have changed, but that does not mean that Four Seasons Resort Lanai no longer holds a special place in his heart. The 69-year-old tied the knot with his ex-wife of 27 years, Melinda French Gates, on the beautiful Hawaiian island of Lanai in 1994 at the then Manele Bay Hotel in Hawaii.
The ultra-secretive $1 million wedding had the billionaire groom-to-be booking the entire 250-room hotel to protect the Gateses and their 130 guests on the island. Melinda may no longer be a life partner, but the Four Seasons Resort Lanai continues to serve the Microsoft co-founder. He loves the property so much that he even helped fellow tech tycoon Larry Ellison purchase it in 2012 for $300 million.
It is said that the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, worth $103 billion, continues to choose the beachside 213-room hotel and books the regal Alii Royal Suite for his stays, ensuring the utmost privacy and the best in luxury. The 3,984-sq-ft, two-bedroom suite feels like a home away from home, packed with fabulous furnishings and elegant artwork.
The mid-century-style $25000 a night suite offers a commodious dining space, a formal sitting area, a library where the avid reader can indulge in his hobby, an oversized Japanese soaking tub, a media room with a 75-inch TV, and an expansive terrace fitted with loungers and three open-air lanais.
With the captivating views of Hulopoe Bay, you never know which marine life might appear, but it’s safe to say that will be your only interruption. There is abundant privacy here with separate access, round-the-clock staff, and even a $90 million Nobu restaurant on the property. Here, Gates can find like-minded people enjoying lip-smacking delicacies that can only be found on Nobu’s menu.
The hotel also includes four other on-site dining options, such as Malibu Farm and One Forty American Steakhouse. Guests can make the most of the fleet of luxury cars like Mercedes and Tesla cars for transfers, but I doubt the billionaire would use any. He may, however, prefer to use the resort’s private airport for VIP guests, zipping in and out in their private jets. In any case, accommodating any of his requests is a no-brainer, as the businessman purchased a majority stake in the Four Seasons hotel chain for $2.21 billion, with Gates owning 71.25% of the hotel chain, which explains his preference for the lavish Four Seasons Resort Lanai. It feels like home to him!
