The millionaire co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, reportedly found it difficult to escape his strict regimen, frequently turning to visits with longtime friend Warren Buffett for solace. The latest York Times correspondent Anupreeta Das’s latest book, “Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and his Quest to Shape the World,” contains this revelation.
According to the book, Bill Gates’s life was carefully planned, with his schedule, including even his free time, divided into five-minute blocks. This strict routine extended beyond work and included “personal time,” which was largely organized by his then-wife, Melinda French Gates.
“When Buffett asked Gates why he couldn’t manage his life and live it as he wished, Gates would simply shrug,” Das wrote. Buffett, who prefers a more laid-back approach, noted in an email, “Bill likes having a schedule; I don’t.
Sometimes, Gates would take his private jet to Omaha to get away from his hectic schedule and spend time with Buffett. These visits provided an opportunity for “freewheeling conversations” and a diversion from Gates’s “tightly scheduled life.” The two would play bridge online when face-to-face sessions were not feasible.
Gates has now admitted to the shortcomings of his highly regimented way of living. He acknowledged it on social media in May 2023, saying, “It took far too long for me to realize that you don’t have to fill every second of your schedule to be successful.” He stated, “In hindsight, it’s a lesson I could have learned a lot sooner had I taken more peeks at Warren Buffett’s intentionally light calendar.”
A developing dynamic between Buffett and Gates is also discussed in the book. After Gates filed for divorce in 2021, Buffett left the Gates Foundation, and it has been stated that their friendship has soured over time.
However, a spokesperson for Bill Gates has strongly disputed the book’s claims. In a statement to Business Insider, the spokesperson said, “The book relies almost entirely on second- and third-hand hearsay and anonymous sources, featuring sensationalized allegations and falsehoods that disregard the actual documented facts our office provided to the author on multiple occasions.”
