How Tall Is Bill Gates?

Quick Answer

Bill Gates's Height

📏 5'9.5" (177 cm) barefoot — CelebHeights estimate
📋 Commonly listed: 5'10" (178 cm)
⚖️ Weight: ~137 lbs (62 kg)
🎂 Born: October 28, 1955, Seattle, Washington, USA
🌍 Nationality: American

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Bill Gates's Real Height Explained

Bill Gates stands at 5'9.5" (177 cm) barefoot, according to CelebHeights{rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"}. Most media profiles and biographical sources round this up to 5'10" (178 cm), and the half-inch discrepancy is unlikely to be noticed in any real-world setting. Either way, Gates stands within a whisker of the average American man's height of 5'9".

At 5'9.5", Gates is essentially Mr. Average when it comes to height — a distinction that is somewhat ironic for a man whose career has been anything but average. As co-founder of Microsoft{rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"} and, for most of the period from 1995 to 2017, the richest person in the world, Gates has spent decades as one of the most recognized and influential humans alive. His height, at dead-center average, is perhaps the least remarkable thing about him.

Gates's build is slim — at approximately 137 lbs (62 kg) on his 5'9.5" frame, he has a lean physique that has remained remarkably consistent throughout his public life. Unlike fellow tech titans Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, who have undergone dramatic physical transformations in recent years, Gates has maintained the same trim, bookish appearance that has been his visual signature since the early days of Microsoft.

Bill Gates's Height Compared to Other Tech CEOs

Gates's height places him in the middle of the tech billionaire pack — taller than the shortest, shorter than the tallest, and squarely in the average zone.

Table: The Tech Billionaire Height Rankings

Gates sits neatly in the center of the group. Elon Musk at 6'1" has 3.5 inches on him, while both Bezos and Zuckerberg at 5'7" are 2.5 inches shorter. It's a fitting position for a man who, despite pioneering the personal computer revolution, now operates in a space between the flashier tech personalities of the current era.

Table: Gates vs Other Celebrities

→ See Bill Gates vs Jeff Bezos side by side → See Bill Gates vs Elon Musk side by side

Notable Height Differences

Among fellow tech leaders, Gates occupies a middle ground that mirrors his current role in the tech ecosystem — still deeply influential but no longer the headline-grabbing figure he once was. He has 2.5 inches on both Jeff Bezos (5'7") and Mark Zuckerberg (5'7"), and gives up 3.5 inches to Elon Musk (6'1"). At tech conferences and public events where these figures occasionally overlap, Gates's average height is most apparent when he stands near the significantly taller Musk.

In the broader celebrity world, Gates is nearly the same height as Taylor Swift (5'9.25") — a comparison that surprises many people, since Swift's stage presence and heels often make her appear much taller. He's an inch shorter than Brad Pitt (5'10.5") and 3.5 inches shorter than Barack Obama (6'1"). Against Oprah Winfrey (5'6.5"), a fellow philanthropist with whom he has appeared on numerous occasions, Gates has about 3 inches.

Gates's height is also interesting in the context of his public appearances with world leaders. He has met with nearly every major head of state over the past three decades through his work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation{rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"}, and his average stature means he rarely stands out physically in group photos — a far cry from his towering influence on global health and technology policy.

How Tall Is Bill Gates Compared to You?

Wondering how you'd look standing next to Bill Gates? Our free height comparison tool lets you enter your own height and see a visual side-by-side comparison. You can even share your result — imagine posting "I'm taller than the co-founder of Microsoft!" on social media.

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Bill Gates: Height in Context

At 5'9.5", Gates is a fascinating case study in how height intersects — or doesn't intersect — with influence. For the better part of two decades, this average-height man from Seattle was the wealthiest human being on Earth. He co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with Paul Allen, dropped out of Harvard{rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"} to pursue it full-time, and built it into the company that put a personal computer on virtually every desk in America.

Born in Seattle, Washington, Gates grew up in an upper-middle-class family and showed an aptitude for computing from an early age. His partnership with Paul Allen, who stood approximately 6'0", meant Gates was often the shorter of the two founding duo — a pattern that continued when he stood next to his longtime business rival Steve Jobs (approximately 6'2") during their joint appearances in the 1990s and 2000s.

Since stepping back from Microsoft's day-to-day operations, Gates has focused on philanthropy through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest private charitable organization. He has pledged to give away virtually all of his wealth during his lifetime, focusing on global health, education, and climate change. His annual book recommendations have become cultural events, and he remains one of the most respected voices in technology and global policy.

At 5'9.5" and 137 lbs, Gates has always been one of the slimmest high-profile men in technology. While Bezos bulked up after 50 and Zuckerberg added muscle through MMA, Gates has maintained his lean, understated build. It fits his public persona — the bookish billionaire who'd rather talk about malaria eradication than bicep curls. His height, like his famous wardrobe of simple sweaters, is thoroughly unremarkable — and that, in its own way, is part of what makes Bill Gates fascinating.

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Quick Facts About Bill Gates

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Bill Gates in feet and inches?

Bill Gates stands at approximately 5'9.5" tall, which is 177 centimeters or 1.77 meters. Most sources round up to 5'10" (178 cm).

How tall is Bill Gates in cm?

Bill Gates is approximately 177 cm tall, equivalent to 5'9.5" in imperial measurements.

Is Bill Gates tall or short?

At 5'9.5", Gates is almost exactly the average height for an American man (5'9"). He is neither notably tall nor short — his height is as close to the statistical middle as possible.

Who is taller, Bill Gates or Elon Musk?

Elon Musk is taller by about 3.5 inches. Musk stands at 6'1" (185 cm), while Gates measures 5'9.5" (177 cm). Musk is the tallest of the major tech billionaires, with Gates falling in the middle of the group.

How much does Bill Gates weigh?

Bill Gates weighs approximately 137 lbs (62 kg). His slim build has been consistent throughout his decades in the public eye, giving him a lean physique on his 5'9.5" frame.

Related Celebrity Heights

• Jeff Bezos Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
• Mark Zuckerberg Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
• Elon Musk Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
• Barack Obama Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
• Taylor Swift Height: 5'9.25" (176 cm)
• Oprah Winfrey Height: 5'6.5" (169 cm)