Bill Gates bought this house simply to keep nosy onlookers and prying eyes away from his $130 million Iron Man-style Xanadu mansion. Offering four bedrooms, a fireplace, and Lake Washington views, the Microsoft co-founder is now selling it for about $4.8 million

Living like Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in a $130 million Xanadu mansion is not something everyone can do. But living right next to that humongous home, and an even bigger personality, is now possible. The 70-year-old tech tycoon, reportedly worth about $105 billion, is selling one of the homes surrounding his famous, tech-laden 66,000-square-foot estate for $4.8 million. The modest 2,800-square-foot mid-century Medina house has plenty of pluses, but the biggest highlight is that it sits in the shadow of one of America’s most famous private compounds.


Built in 1953, the home features 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, along with a massive outdoor deck, lovely Lake Washington views, and deeded water access, reported Realtor. And yes, there are serious bragging rights in being able to say you live next door to one of the world’s richest billionaires. Inside, you will find a charming, well-planned home with a fireplace anchoring the living room, a dining area that opens onto an expansive outdoor space, and soothing forest-and-lake views, perhaps even a peek at Mr. Gates someday. A Gates-era “privacy buffer” could, indeed, become another family’s haven.

That said, “solace” might be a stretch. The Gates family’s years in Medina changed the neighborhood’s rhythm. With rising fame came more traffic on narrow streets, casual neighborly socializing took a hit, and the area became a magnet for curiosity seekers.

It is one of 11 properties, including nine houses, surrounding the Medina estate, according to Seattle Times. Some neighbors say Gates employees lived in them, some were simply privacy buffers, and one was even believed to have been converted into a plant nursery.