Gates vs Buffett

The two friends behind the Giving Pledge.

The differences

Forbes puts Warren Buffett about $33.2B ahead of Bill Gates.Forbes figures from 17 Oct 2026 and 15 Oct 2026.
Bill Gates: co-founded it. Warren Buffett: built it up.
Warren Buffett is about 25 years older than Bill Gates.
Both have signed the Giving Pledge.

Put someone else on either side

Gates

Buffett

Net worth, Forbes: $118BForbes, 15 Oct 2026; $151BForbes, 17 Oct 2026
Net worth, Bloomberg: $119BBloomberg, 16 Oct 2026; $147BBloomberg, 9 Oct 2026
Forbes rank: No. 17Real-Time list, 15 Oct 2026; No. 9Annual list, 1 Mar 2026
Billionaire since: 1987Forbes first listed him as a billionaire in 1987; Not stated

How it started: Co-founded itCo-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975; Built it upDid not found Berkshire Hathaway: his investment partnership (BPL) began buying its shares in 1962 and took control in May 1965; Forbes lists him as self-made
Main source: Cascade Investment, built from Microsoft stock sales and dividendsBloomberg: 'The majority of Bill Gates' fortune is derived from Cascade Investment'; Berkshire Hathaway stockBloomberg: 'The majority of Warren Buffett's fortune is derived from his interest in Berkshire Hathaway'; the 10-K describes Berkshire as a holding company in insurance, freight rail, utilities and energy, manufacturing, services and retailing
Companies: MicrosoftMicrosoft: Co-founder; technology advisor to the CEO; Berkshire HathawayBerkshire Hathaway: Chairman Emeritus and director (since September 18, 2026)
Biggest stake: Microsoft1% owned; Berkshire Hathaway13.2% owned

Born: 28 Oct 1955Seattle, Washington, United States; 30 Aug 1930Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Country: United StatesLives in Medina, Washington, United States; United StatesLives in Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Education: Left university without a degreeHarvard University, left without a degree (honorary degree in 2007); Graduate degreeBachelor's degree, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Master of Science, Columbia University
Parents: Father William H. Gates Sr. was an attorney and civic leader; mother Mary Gates was a schoolteacher, University of Washington regent and chair of United Way International; His father, Howard, worked in the investment business and was elected to Congress in 1942; his paternal grandparents had a grocery business

Giving Pledge: Signed in 2010Co-founded the Giving Pledge in 2010 with Melinda French Gates and Warren Buffett; Signed in 2010Co-founded the Giving Pledge with Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation: Gates FoundationFormerly the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; renamed in 2025. He is trustee of the Gates Foundation Trust; Berkshire stock gifts to the Gates Foundation and four family foundationsSince 2006 he has given Berkshire stock to the Gates Foundation and to the Susan Thompson Buffett, Sherwood, Howard G. Buffett and NoVo foundations
Lifetime giving: $63.9BGates Foundation, 31 Dec 2025. Joint total given by Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates to the foundation from inception through 2025; no Gates-only figure is published; $72BForbes, 15 Sep 2026. Forbes: 'So far he has given away more than $72 billion, mostly through the Gates Foundation and his kids' foundations'. The Gates Foundation reports $47.9 billion from him through 2025

Role now: Founder, no executive roleChair of the Gates Foundation; technology advisor to Microsoft's CEO; On the boardChairman Emeritus and director of Berkshire Hathaway
Successor: Steve Ballmer succeeded him as Microsoft CEO in 2000; Satya Nadella is now chairman and CEONo Gates family member is named in a Microsoft executive role in the cited sources; Greg Abel (CEO since January 1, 2026); Howard G. Buffett (chairman since September 18, 2026)The company notices give the roles but don't state Howard Buffett's relationship to him
Public office: None found; None found
Legal record: 2004: US District Court for D.C. (DOJ case at the FTC's request)A consent final judgment in a case over a Hart-Scott-Rodino premerger notification violation ordered him to pay $800,000 in civil penalties, without trial or adjudication of facts or law.; None found