Contrary to recent reports, it turns out that Bill Gates is not the new owner of a magnificent $60 million castle in Northern Italy.
Last week, Italian newspaper Il Secolo XIX made headlines by suggesting that the Microsoft co-founder had acquired the renowned Villa San Giorgio situated in Italy’s Liguria region. According to the local publication, Gates was purportedly the buyer of this historic property through his Four Seasons real estate company, with plans to transform the edifice into a luxurious resort. However, Gates’s representatives have firmly refuted these claims.
A spokesperson for Cascade Asset Management Company, the wealth manager overseeing Gates’s financial matters, categorically stated, “Bill Gates did not purchase Villa San Giorgio, the sea-view building in Portofino often referred to as the ‘Castle,'” when speaking to ANSA.
The castle-like structure in question holds historical significance, having served as a military bastion during the Roman era due to its strategically elevated location. However, it eventually fell into disuse and was abandoned, as reported by The Daily Mail. Subsequently, a British diplomat acquired the property, overseeing its transformation into the opulent villa we recognize today. This extraordinary estate, also known as Portofino Castle, spans an impressive 12,917 square feet and boasts a unique feature—an elevator that directly transports occupants to the beach below.
Portofino, perched gracefully on the northwest coast of Italy, has long been a favored sanctuary for jet-setters, entrepreneurs, and celebrities alike. Prominent figures such as fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are known to own villas in the area, while luminaries like Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeff Bezos, and Jennifer Lopez have all graced the picturesque fishing village with their presence. Notably, it was also the enchanting setting for the wedding of Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker at Villa Olivetta.
While Gates’s spokesperson maintains that the reports are “not true,” it is worth noting that, had such a sale occurred, it would not have been the first instance of Gates acquiring property in Italy to complement his already impressive $170 million real estate portfolio. In 2021, Gates’s private equity firm secured a majority stake in the Four Seasons Hotel chain through a $2.2 billion transaction with Saudi Prince al-Waleed bin Talal. Subsequently, the Four Seasons brand was awarded a contract to establish a new resort in Rome, housed within a 17th-century palazzo located in close proximity to St. Peter’s Basilica and the Spanish Steps. This forthcoming establishment is poised to become Rome’s inaugural six-star hotel.
