Inside Bill Gates' House

Bill Gates really doesn't need an introduction; the founder of Microsoft is a household name. The home he built in 1994 has a reputation of its own too. Five acres is not impressive on its own (although it is more land than the typical home owner has today), it is what you do with those 5 acres that sets it apart from the rest.

Among the many technical marvels that are integrated into the home for the latest in modern conveniences are revolving works of art - if you really don't want to look at Manet today with a touch of a button it can be rotated to the Van Gogh painting. And the floors are pressure sensitive, at any given time Gates or security can know who is in the house by the weight of their footsteps. I wonder if that means you have to update your employer if you lose or gain weight?

A few of the noteworthy rooms or areas of the home include:

• Pool Building
• Exercise Facilities
• Library
• Grand Staircase
• Theater
• Formal Dining Room
• Offices Reception Hall
• Multi-Purpose Room
• Guest House
• Underground Garage
• Gatehouse
• Boathouse
• Activities Building
• Estuary

With a lack of photographs available of the interior of the Gates' house, the general public has to be satisfied with the numbers and our imagination. Here is a tour of the house, by the numbers:

• Assessed value of house - $53,392,200 USD
• Over 66,000 square feet (includes all buildings)
• 7 bedrooms
• 24 bathrooms (10 of those are full baths)
• 6 kitchens
• 6 fireplaces
• Situated on 5 acres
• Gates' family private quarters - 11,500 square feet
• 2100 square foot library
• The Grand Staircase is 92 feet long and 63 feet high with 84 steps
• 3 garages, the largest is 6300 square feet and can fit 10 cars
• Theater seats 20 people
• Reception Hall has a capacity of 150 people for a sit down dinner or 200 people for a cocktail party

The custom forest that Gates had transplanted around the perimeter of his home ensures the privacy of his family is not compromised.

If you go to this website by Paper Toys, you can print out a scale paper model that can be assembled of the house. It includes the Grand Staircase, exercise facilities, boathouse and more. Almost as good as a tour of the house in person.