9 Memorable Bill Gates Quotes About Money, Business, and Life

Bill Gates quotes
Wealth Gang / imgur.com

If you know one thing about Bill Gates, it’s probably this: He is very, very rich. One of the richest Americans in the world, in fact. He also has some memorable quotes that pertain to his success in business and life, though some may seem a tad out of touch.

Here’s a collection of Gates’ best quotes that reveal his thoughts on money and success and how to keep it all in perspective — even if your bank account has more zeros than a math textbook.

1. “Money has no utility to me beyond a certain point.”

Bill Gates
Paolo Bona / Shutterstock
Paolo Bona / Shutterstock

2. “If you are born poor it’s not your mistake, but if you die poor it’s your mistake.”

Bill Gates
Masterworks.com
Masterworks.com

3. “I can understand wanting to have millions of dollars. There’s certain meaningful freedom that comes with that, but once you get much beyond that, I have to tell you, it’s the same hamburger.”

Bill Gates
DepositPhotos.com
DepositPhotos.com

4. “I have $100 billion… You realize I could spend $3 million a day, every day, for the next 100 years? And that’s if I don’t make another dime…”

Bill Gates
Wikimedia Commons / Mueller / MSC
Wikimedia Commons / Mueller / MSC

5. “We’ve got to put a lot of money into changing behavior.”

Bill Gates
Kuhlmann /MSC
Kuhlmann /MSC

6. “Owning a plane is a guilty pleasure.”

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett
Deposit Photos
Deposit Photos

7. “I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.”

Bill Gates
imgur.com

8. “If you can’t make it good, at least make it look good.”

Bill Gates
imgur.com
imgur.com

9. “It’s fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.

Bill Gates and Paul Allen
imgur.com
imgur.com
Author
Erin Kuschner

Erin Kuschner has spent the past decade as a writer and editor for both digital and print publications. Prior to joining Wealth Gang, she was a reporter and editor at Boston.com, Time Out Austin, and Time Out Los Angeles, and has written for the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, Eater, and other publications.