Rs 11239254000 mansion situated near Lake Washington is most precious for Microsoft founder Bill Gates due to...
Microsoft founder Bill Gates, one of the richest men in the world, is known for his charity and simplistic lifestyle, and has donated a major portion of his wealth to charitable causes. However, there is one property he cherishes more than anything– Xanadu 2.0, Bill Gates' lakefront mansion home on Lake Washington– which he refuses to sell or downsize under any circumstances. Here's why. Why Bill Gates cherishes Xanadu 2.0?
In multiple interviews, Bill Gates has revealed that he doesn't consider lakefront mansion as a just a house, but a private space full of old memories, technological innovations of that time and family heritage. The 69-year-old Microsoft co-founder says he feels a deep emotional connection to the house he spent years building, even though he is divorced and does not have any kids at home.
Gates revealed that he isn't the least bit interested in downsizing or renovating the Xanadu 2.0 mansion, and even upgrading its interiors, because of what the famous mansion means to him at a personal level.
The tech billionaire also revealed that his kids would often visit the lakefront mansion, making it a central family space. How much the Xanadu 2.0 worth?
According to details, Bill Gates purchased the property for $2 million in 1988, and spent about $63 million over seven years to transform the house into a technological and architectural marvel. Currently, the Xanadu 2.0 is estimated to be worth over $130 million.
The ultra luxurious estate, built on a hill, is spread over 66,000 square feet, and exemplifies Gates' lifestyle, values. and desire for privacy in a relaxed atmosphere surrounded by family and nature. The sprawling mansion features a swimming pool and a 2,500 square foot fitness center with a sauna, steam room and a 20-foot trampoline room.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
11 minutes ago
- Hans India
Tech Titans Slash Jobs Amid AI Shift: TCS, Microsoft, Intel Lead Major Layoff Wave
A fresh wave of layoffs is sweeping across the global tech landscape as major firms including TCS, Microsoft, Intel, Meta, and Panasonic restructure their operations amid the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and shifting market demands. TCS Layoffs Rooted in Skill Mismatch Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India's largest IT services company, is reducing its workforce by approximately 12,000 employees, or around 2 percent of its global staff. Interestingly, the company clarified that this move is not directly linked to AI advancements. In an interview with Money Control, CEO K Krithivasan stated, 'The layoffs are happening because of limited options to redeploy employees who do not match current project requirements.' He emphasized that the company remains committed to hiring and training talent. However, he acknowledged that placing some roles, particularly mid- to senior-level professionals, remains a challenge. TCS has invested in upskilling its workforce, training over 550,000 employees in foundational digital skills and about 100,000 in advanced technologies. Yet, Krithivasan admitted that some experienced professionals are struggling to progress beyond the initial levels of training, making redeployment difficult. Microsoft Cuts Jobs Despite Strong Earnings Microsoft has also been trimming its workforce, letting go of more than 15,000 employees in 2025. An additional 2,000 staff, considered underperformers, have also exited the company. This move comes despite Microsoft's strong financial performance and record-high stock prices. In a company-wide memo, CEO Satya Nadella acknowledged the emotional toll on employees, noting, 'I understand how difficult this period has been for everyone.' He explained that the restructuring is essential for long-term alignment as Microsoft invests nearly $80 billion into AI infrastructure. Intel's Massive Workforce Reduction Intel is implementing one of the largest job cuts this year, with plans to eliminate around 24,000 roles — nearly 25 percent of its workforce. Announced during its quarterly earnings, the layoffs are part of a larger strategy to streamline operations following miscalculations in demand forecasting. New CEO Lip-Bu Tan stated that the company is aiming to become 'leaner and more efficient.' Alongside the job cuts, Intel is also cancelling planned factory developments in Germany and Poland and shifting some operations from Costa Rica to Vietnam, impacting 2,000 employees in Costa Rica alone. Meta Scales Down Reality Labs Meta has made new cuts within its Reality Labs division, affecting teams behind products like the Supernatural fitness app. Though the company didn't disclose numbers, it confirmed the layoffs are aimed at focusing more sharply on future mixed reality experiences. Earlier this year, Meta also reduced its global headcount by 5 percent, primarily targeting underperformers. Panasonic Joins the Trend Japanese electronics giant Panasonic is eliminating 10,000 jobs globally, half of which are in Japan. CEO Yuki Kusumi explained that the decision is part of a strategy to reduce costs and shift resources toward future technologies such as AI. 'We're moving away from slower segments like TVs and certain industrial products,' Kusumi said, expressing regret over the layoffs but stressing their necessity for long-term growth.
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Stuck at Hebbal flyover or ORR? Internet jokes Mercedes' Teams feature is 'specially designed for Bengaluru' to help you attend office meetings
Mercedes-Benz is taking in-car tech to a whole new level, and not everyone's thrilled about it. The German luxury carmaker has announced a new partnership with Microsoft, allowing drivers to take video calls while driving. Yes, you read that right. Thanks to an upgraded version of the Microsoft Teams app, drivers can now join meetings on the go. The in-car camera will even let others in the meeting see them live. But before you panic, there's a limit: drivers won't be able to view shared screens or slides while the car is in motion. The system will automatically turn off the incoming video stream once the camera is activated. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Project Management Artificial Intelligence Data Analytics Healthcare CXO PGDM Public Policy Design Thinking healthcare Data Science Leadership Finance Cybersecurity MCA Product Management Digital Marketing others Others Degree Management MBA Technology Data Science Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Project Planning & Governance Agile Software Development Practices Project Management Tools & Software Techniques Scrum Framework Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Programme in IT Project Management Starts on Jun 20, 2024 Get Details Mercedes is calling this move a step towards 'in-car productivity'. The internet, however, is calling it a terrible idea. The Internet Reacts: 'Nobody Asked for This' The feature has gone viral online, mostly for the wrong reasons. One post on X (formerly Twitter) gained 1.7 million views, sparking a wave of memes and sarcasm. 'Not a single soul asked for this,' one user wrote. Live Events Another joked, 'Can't even have peace while driving now. Bring back the days of travel without constant connection.' One person even imagined the awkward pitch meeting that led to the idea: 'What does the Gen Z intern who doesn't have a driver's licence think?' A meme showing a person crying in traffic with the caption 'On a Teams call while stuck in Bangalore' captured the mood perfectly. 'Worst Possible Feature in a Car' The backlash didn't stop there. Many pointed out the safety concerns of mixing video calls with driving, even if drivers can't see what's being shared. Others worried about the pressure to stay connected 24/7. 'A car is meant to get you from one place to another, not hold your Monday meeting on the autobahn,' one X user said. Even on Team BHP, one of India's top car forums, the sarcasm flowed freely. 'Looks like it was specially made for Bangalore . Anyway people are stuck in traffic, let's make the most of it,' a user wrote. 'Oh great! Now they'll get to see me curse at the traffic all the way to work,' another added. Mercedes-Benz and Microsoft may have good intentions, after all, traffic jams and long commutes are common. But the response so far shows that people still want their cars to be a place of peace, not pressure. In an age where work follows us everywhere, the idea of video calls in cars might just be one step too far for many. Whether it becomes the norm or gets quietly dropped remains to be seen. For now, though, the memes have definitely arrived before the meetings.
India Today
41 minutes ago
- India Today
Tech layoffs: TCS, Microsoft, Intel among 5 slashing thousands of jobs in apparent AI restructure
Several global tech companies, including TCS, Microsoft, Intel, Meta, and Panasonic, are laying off thousands of employees this year as they adjust to changing business needs and the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI). While some companies say the cuts are tied to efficiency and restructuring, others like TCS are pointing to internal challenges such as skill mismatches. Here is everything you need to know about the latest set of layoffsTata Consultancy Services (TCS), India's biggest IT firm, is reducing its global workforce by about 2 per cent, which could affect around 12,000 employees. However, the company insists this move is not due to AI-based productivity gains. In a recent interview, TCS CEO K Krithivasan clarified to Money Control that the layoffs are happening because of limited options to redeploy employees who do not match current project requirements. He said the company is still actively hiring and training people, but some roles, especially at mid and senior levels, are hard to explained that while over 5.5 lakh employees have been trained in basic digital skills and nearly 1 lakh in advanced technologies, some senior professionals are struggling to adapt beyond the initial training levels. As a result, the company is finding it difficult to deploy them job cuts Microsoft, too, has let go of more than 15,000 employees this year. On top of that, around 2,000 workers labelled as underperformers have also exited the company. This comes even as Microsoft is reporting strong earnings and hitting record-high stock prices. In a memo to employees, CEO Satya Nadella acknowledged the layoffs and said he understands how difficult this period has been for everyone. Despite the company's solid financial health, he said restructuring is necessary to stay aligned with long-term goals, especially as Microsoft continues to invest heavily, around $80 billion — in building AI job cutsIntel is making one of the biggest cuts this year, with plans to reduce its workforce by about 24,000 employees — roughly a quarter of its total staff. The decision was announced during the company's quarterly earnings update. Intel's new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, said the company is focusing on becoming leaner and more efficient after overbuilding in areas where demand didn't materialise as expected. As part of this shift, Intel is cancelling some of its factory projects in Germany and Poland, and is moving some work from Costa Rica to Vietnam — impacting around 2,000 employees in Costa Rica layoffsMeanwhile, Meta has made fresh job cuts in its Reality Labs division, which looks after its VR and AR products, including games for its Quest headsets. While the company did not share exact numbers, teams working on some notable projects like the Supernatural fitness app were affected. Meta said the goal is to streamline operations and improve focus on future mixed reality experiences. Earlier this year, Meta had also cut 5 percent of its workforce in a separate round, targeting underperforming layoffsadvertisementJapanese tech giant Panasonic has also joined the list, with a plan to cut 10,000 jobs as part of a broader effort to reduce costs and invest more in future technologies like AI. About half of these cuts will be in Japan, with the rest overseas. CEO Yuki Kusumi said the company is shifting away from slower segments like TVs and some industrial products, and expressed regret over the decision but emphasised that these steps are necessary for long-term growth.- Ends
