Bill Gates Hobbies: What Does He Enjoy Outside Work in 2026

When you think of Bill Gates, you probably picture Microsoft, technology, and one of the world’s most influential entrepreneurs. But what does he actually enjoy when he steps away from business and philanthropy? I find that question fascinating because hobbies can reveal a more personal side of even the most famous people. 

If you’re curious about what Bill Gates does in his free time, you’ll discover that his interests range from reading and learning to outdoor activities and other pursuits that reflect his personality. In this guide, you’ll explore Bill Gates’ hobbies and see how his interests have helped shape the way he spends his time beyond his professional life.

Bill Gates Hobbies(Quick Answer)

Bill Gates’ best-documented hobbies and recreational interests include:

• Reading, especially nonfiction, science, history, technology, and thought-provoking fiction
• Tennis, which he has described as a regular form of exercise
• Pickleball, which he has played for more than 50 years
• Bridge, a card game he has played competitively and socially
• Golf, an interest he has shared with Warren Buffett
• Wordle and other strategy games
• Board and card games, including games he enjoyed with family
• Skiing and water-skiing, particularly as recreational activities earlier in his life

The strongest evidence for his current recreational interests comes from Gates himself. In a 2022 article, he described pickleball as one of his favorite pastimes and said he played with friends and family at least once a week. His website also says he enjoys tennis, pickleball, bridge, Wordle, and strategy games.

1. Reading

Reading is arguably the hobby most closely associated with Bill Gates.

Gates has repeatedly written about books, published reading lists, and reviewed books on his personal website, Gates Notes. His reading covers a wide range of subjects, including science, economics, history, technology, society, climate, health, fiction, and science fiction.

What makes Gates’ reading habit particularly interesting is that he often approaches books as a way to explore unfamiliar subjects. He has explained that when he wants to understand something, he may turn to a textbook or online course and teach himself. He has also described reading extensively when beginning new projects.

What does Bill Gates like to read?

His recommendations have included both nonfiction and fiction. He has written about subjects such as:

• Science and technology
• Climate and energy
• Economics
• History
• Public health
• Education
• Society
• Memoirs
• Science fiction
• Biography

Gates has also said that his reading choices do not always follow an obvious pattern. He might move from a history book to a science-fiction novel depending on what interests him at the time.

Why reading stands out as a Bill Gates hobby

For Gates, reading appears to combine recreation with curiosity. It is not simply about entertainment; it is also a way of learning about subjects outside his immediate expertise.

That makes reading one of the easiest Bill Gates hobbies for other people to adopt. You do not need expensive equipment, a special venue, or advanced skills. A library card, an e-reader, or a few books can be enough to begin.

2. Pickleball

Pickleball is one of the most distinctive hobbies associated with Bill Gates because he has been playing it for decades.

In 2022, Gates wrote that he had been a “Pickler” for more than 50 years. He described pickleball as one of his favorite pastimes and said he looked forward to playing with friends and family at least once a week, with more games during the summer.

He also explained why he enjoys the sport: it combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis while being relatively easy for beginners to learn.

What makes pickleball a good fit for Gates?

Pickleball gives Gates something different from his more intellectual hobbies. It combines:

• Physical activity
• Competition
• Skill development
• Social interaction
• Short, accessible games

Gates also considers pickleball and tennis complementary. He has said that playing one has helped his game in the other.

Is pickleball one of Bill Gates’ current hobbies?

Yes. This is one of the better-documented examples because Gates has personally written about playing it regularly rather than the hobby being based only on third-party biographies.

For readers looking for an active hobby inspired by Gates, pickleball is also relatively approachable. Beginners can learn the basic mechanics quickly, although becoming genuinely good at the sport takes considerably more practice.

3. Tennis

Tennis has been another long-running recreational interest for Gates.

In a 2019 question-and-answer session, Gates said that he played tennis and described it as good exercise. His later writing about pickleball also identifies him as a lifelong tennis player.

His interest in tennis has also brought him into high-profile exhibition settings. He has played alongside professional tennis stars, including Roger Federer, although those appearances should not be confused with Gates being a professional tennis player.

Why tennis is different from his other hobbies

Tennis combines several elements that do not appear together in reading or bridge:

• Physical movement
• Hand-eye coordination
• Individual competition
• Tactical decision-making
• Practice and measurable improvement
• Social play

For Gates, tennis also overlaps naturally with pickleball. Both involve racquet or paddle skills, positioning, anticipation, and rapid decisions.

4. Bridge

Bridge is perhaps the most intellectually competitive of Bill Gates’ hobbies.

Gates has played contract bridge for many years and has frequently been associated with Warren Buffett, another well-known bridge enthusiast. In 2002, CBS reported that Gates was competing at the World Bridge Championships and described himself as a bridge addiction. He explained that the game provided a significant mental challenge and kept his mind active.

Gates has also appeared in reporting about bridge alongside Buffett and has participated in efforts to encourage young people to learn the game.

Why does Bill Gates like bridge?

Bridge is a particularly natural match for someone who enjoys analytical problems. The game requires players to interpret information, remember cards, evaluate probabilities, communicate with a partner, and make decisions with incomplete information.

Gates’ attraction to bridge therefore seems less about passive entertainment and more about having a difficult skill that can continually be improved.

Is bridge still one of his hobbies?

Gates’ current Games I Love page continues to list bridge among the games he enjoys, alongside tennis and pickleball.

That makes bridge one of the hobbies with evidence spanning several decades of his life.

5. Golf

Golf is another recreational activity associated with Gates, particularly through his friendship with Warren Buffett.

Golf Digest reported that Gates took up golf in the early 1990s and later played with Buffett. The publication also reported on Gates’ progress with the game and his participation at Augusta National Golf Club.

Golf differs from tennis and pickleball in several important ways. It is less about continuous movement and more about precision, consistency, course management, and patience.

Why golf may appeal to someone like Gates

Golf offers a combination of:

• Individual skill development
• Strategy
• Concentration
• Outdoor recreation
• Social time
• Long-term improvement

It also provides a setting where recreational competition can happen without requiring the fast pace of a tennis or pickleball match.

Because much of the available detailed reporting on Gates’ golf dates from earlier periods, it is more accurate to describe golf as a well-documented interest rather than claim that it is necessarily one of his most frequent current hobbies.

6. Wordle and Strategy Games

Gates’ recreational interests are not limited to physical sports.

His own “Games I Love” page says he enjoys Wordle and the Spelling Bee every morning, along with strategy games and board games. He has also mentioned playing games such as Heads Up while traveling.

This is an interesting part of his hobby profile because it shows a preference for games that involve thinking and problem-solving.

What makes these games appealing?

Games such as Wordle provide a very different experience from bridge. They are short, easy to access, and can become part of a daily routine.

Strategy and board games, meanwhile, can involve:

• Planning
• Pattern recognition
• Logical reasoning
• Risk assessment
• Competition
• Social interaction

These interests also connect with Gates’ longstanding enthusiasm for puzzles and games.

7. Board and Card Games

Games have been part of Gates’ life since childhood.

According to HistoryLink’s biography of Gates, he enjoyed board games such as Risk and Monopoly when he was young. He also participated in family card games and developed a strong competitive streak.

Gates has separately written about his grandmother teaching him to play cards and remembered the first time he beat her.

This background helps explain why games remain part of his recreational interests as an adult.

The important point is not that every board game is necessarily a current Bill Gates hobby. Rather, games have been a recurring recreational theme throughout different stages of his life.

8. Skiing and Other Outdoor Activities

Some of Gates’ earlier recreational interests were more physically adventurous.

A biographical account from HistoryLink notes that, as a young person, Gates participated in activities including skiing, tennis, rollerskating, and water-skiing.

The New Yorker also reported in the 1990s that water-skiing was a passion of Gates’ and described him water-skiing on Lake Washington.

These activities are best understood as historical interests, rather than assuming they remain major hobbies today.

That distinction matters when discussing the hobbies of a public figure. A hobby documented during someone’s youth or earlier adulthood should not automatically be presented as a current pastime decades later.

Bill Gates Hobbies at a Glance

Hobby	Type	Difficulty	Main Appeal	Current Evidence
Reading	Intellectual / solo	Easy to start	Learning and curiosity	Strong
Pickleball	Active / social	Easy to moderate	Exercise, competition, friends	Strong
Tennis	Active / social	Moderate	Exercise and skill development	Strong
Bridge	Mental / social	Moderate to advanced	Strategy and competition	Strong
Golf	Outdoor / social	Moderate	Precision, strategy, recreation	Well documented
Wordle	Mental / solo	Easy	Daily mental challenge	Strong
Strategy games	Mental / social	Varies	Problem-solving and competition	Strong
Board/card games	Social / strategic	Varies	Competition and connection	Longstanding
Skiing	Outdoor / physical	Moderate	Recreation and activity	Historical evidence
Water-skiing	Outdoor / physical	Moderate to advanced	Adventure and recreation	Historical evidence

What Bill Gates’ Hobbies Have in Common

Although Gates’ interests look varied, there is a noticeable pattern.

They involve learning or improvement

Reading introduces new ideas. Bridge rewards better decision-making. Tennis and pickleball require practice. Strategy games become more interesting as players improve.

Gates has repeatedly demonstrated an interest in learning for its own sake, including teaching himself unfamiliar subjects through books and courses.

Many are competitive without being purely work-related

Tennis, pickleball, bridge, golf, and strategy games all have competitive elements.

That does not mean Gates treats every hobby like business. Rather, these activities offer a structured way to test skills, make decisions, and improve over time.

Several are social

Bridge is normally played with partners and opponents. Tennis and pickleball can be played with friends. Golf is often social. Board and card games bring people together around a shared activity.

Gates has specifically mentioned playing pickleball with friends and family.

His hobbies balance mental and physical activity

This may be the most useful takeaway from Gates’ hobby choices.

His interests span two broad categories:

Mental hobbies

• Reading
• Bridge
• Wordle
• Strategy games
• Board games

Physical hobbies

• Tennis
• Pickleball
• Golf
• Skiing
• Water-skiing

That combination provides variety rather than relying on a single type of recreation.

Which Bill Gates Hobby Is Best for You?

You do not need Gates’ resources or lifestyle to take inspiration from his hobbies. Several of his interests are inexpensive and accessible.

If you enjoy learning

Try reading. You can choose one subject you already understand and gradually branch into unfamiliar areas, much like Gates’ broad reading interests.

If you want an active social hobby

Consider pickleball or tennis. Pickleball generally has a gentler entry point, while tennis offers a deeper technical learning curve.

If you enjoy strategy

Bridge is the obvious choice. It takes more commitment to learn properly than a casual card game, but that complexity is part of its appeal.

If you want a short daily challenge

Try Wordle or another word puzzle. It requires little equipment and can fit into a few minutes of free time.

If you prefer outdoor recreation

Golf offers a slower-paced outdoor alternative to tennis and pickleball. If you are interested in more adventurous activities, skiing can provide a more physically demanding option where conditions and access permit.

How to Start a Hobby Inspired by Bill Gates

You do not need to copy Gates’ entire hobby list. Choose one activity that matches your own interests.

A practical approach is:

1. Choose one hobby, rather than starting five at once.
2. Set a small first goal, such as reading one book or attending one beginner session.
3. Use beginner resources before buying advanced equipment.
4. Practice consistently, even if sessions are short.
5. Find other people who enjoy the activity if the hobby has a social component.
6. Track progress without turning recreation into another job.
7. Keep the hobby because you enjoy it, not simply because a successful person enjoys it.

The value of Gates’ hobbies is not that they are inherently better than other hobbies. It is that his interests illustrate how recreation can combine curiosity, physical activity, competition, and social connection.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bill Gates Hobbies

What is Bill Gates’ favorite hobby?

Bill Gates has described pickleball as one of his favorite pastimes, and his website also lists tennis, bridge, Wordle, and strategy games among the activities he enjoys.

Does Bill Gates play pickleball?

Yes. Gates has said he has played pickleball for more than 50 years and plays with friends and family at least weekly, with more frequent games during the summer.

Does Bill Gates play tennis?

Yes. Gates has described himself as a lifelong tennis player and has said that tennis is good exercise.

Does Bill Gates play bridge?

Yes. Bridge is one of Gates’ longstanding hobbies. He has played the game for decades and has participated in competitive bridge events. His current Games I Love page also lists bridge among his favorite games.

Does Bill Gates like reading?

Yes. Reading is one of Gates’ most extensively documented interests. He regularly publishes book recommendations and reviews and reads across subjects ranging from science and economics to history and fiction.

Does Bill Gates play golf?

Yes. Gates has played golf since at least the early 1990s and has played with Warren Buffett. Golf is a well-documented recreational interest, although much of the detailed reporting about his golf dates from earlier years.

What games does Bill Gates play?

Gates has said he enjoys bridge, Wordle, the Spelling Bee, strategy games, and board games. He has also mentioned playing Heads Up.

What hobbies did Bill Gates have as a child?

Biographical sources describe Gates enjoying board games such as Risk and Monopoly, as well as activities including tennis, skiing, rollerskating, and water-skiing. He was also interested in card games and had a competitive streak.

Conclusion

Bill Gates’ hobbies reveal a mix of curiosity, competition, physical activity, and social recreation. Reading and games satisfy his interest in learning and problem-solving, while tennis and pickleball provide physical activity and time with other people. Bridge adds a demanding strategic element, while golf and several outdoor activities round out his recreational interests.

If you want to take inspiration from Bill Gates, the most accessible choices are reading, puzzles, strategy games, tennis, pickleball, or card games. The best hobby is ultimately the one that fits your interests, time, budget, and preferred way of spending your free time.