Bill and Melinda Gates spent $43 million on an oceanfront mansion in San Diego, California’s newest hot place, before announcing their surprise divorce.
However, it appears that Gates, 66, is the one who has snatched up the lovely property for his own use — and he’s modifying it to a tee, according to The Post.
The original six-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom estate, which covered 5,800 square feet, has been entirely dismantled and is being rebuilt from the ground up under the supervision of Microsoft’s billionaire founder.
Gates has already visited the project twice in the last three months with his two bulletproof suburban security detail, according to local sources.
And the disturbances are causing dissatisfaction among neighbors.
“They make a lot of noise, my baby can’t sleep,” another neighbor explained. “It’s become a real hindrance on the whole neighborhood.”
Obtaining authorization to construct in the area in the first place is an accomplishment in and of itself. Permits take a long time to obtain and are practically hard to obtain, according to local officials. Nothing is truly off bounds if you’re Bill Gates, who has a net worth of $134 billion.
Although Gates and his now-estranged ex-wife purchased the estate on March 27, 2020, development did not begin until the last three months.
The house was in fantastic shape when real estate images were taken prior to the sale. Nonetheless, Gates felt compelled to demolish the entire structure.
“I’m not sure why he would want to pull it down because the house they bought was in wonderful condition,” a local realtor told The Post.
According to insiders, Gates plans to use the home, which is located in the posh Del Mar district, as his summer bachelor pad.
One insider added, “When he comes, he checks the house, walks out in front, inspects it.”
The present 24-hour security guards who are keeping a watch on the property while it is being built hope that the new house will be finished by August at the earliest. Although images show the construction in its early phases, it looks that there is still a long way to go.
“They’re working around the clock to finish it,” the source continued.
Gates flies into Carlsbad six times a month, according to the source, which is just 30 minutes from the Del Mar property and a short drive from his home in Rancho Santa Fe.
Gates’ spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment from The Washington Post.
Gates owns homes in Palm Springs and Seattle when he is not in the area.
After 27 years of marriage, Melinda, 57, and Bill Gates announced their divorce in May 2021. In court documents, Melinda claimed that the former couple’s relationship was “irretrievably shattered.” In August, the divorce was finalized.