The world's richest man doesn't have expensive tastes: Bill Gates eats Big Macs for lunch and demands a fridge full of Diet Coke when he stays in hotels
He has a net worth of $81billion, and has spent the last 23 years at the top of the Forbes rich list, but Bill Gates is a man of simple taste.
A boss at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has revealed that cheeseburgers are the lunchtime meal of choice for the world's richest man.
Joe Cerrell, a managing director at the foundation, also said Gates opts for 'hotel rooms full of Diet Coke' when he is on the road.
He made the comment to Mary Riddell, from The Daily Telegraph, who has spent three months with the billionaire to find out more about him.
Cerrell said: 'If you get the lunchtime slot with Bill, you’re eating burgers.
'Someone will always be sent to get bags of McDonald’s. I don’t think Melinda (Gates's wife) lets him have them at home.'
Cerrell added that Gates can be 'pretty impatient', stating: ‘With Bill you really do have to know your stuff. It’s like briefing the smartest guy in the room.
'He can get very frustrated if he thinks his time has been wasted. He’s very funny too – absolutely not arrogant. But our days are pretty structured.'
He is not the only billionaire with a taste for the fizzy drinks - America's third richest man, Warren Buffett, is also a fan of Coca Cola.
In April Fortune Magazine reported that he joked at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting that his body is one-quarter Coke, and that he drinks 750 calories of it a day - the number of calories in around five cans.
He said: 'There’s no evidence that I will any better reach 100 if I had lived on broccoli and water.'
Donald Trump is also a famous junk food fan, and has shared photos of himself during his presidential campaign devouring a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, eating a burger from McDonald's and munching on a taco.
In February while speaking to CNN he declared his love for Big Macs and Quarter Pounders.
Next week Gates will be in London to speak at the Grand Challenges forum, launched by the foundation and held every year.
Fellow speakers will include Richard Branson and hip hop artist will.i.am, who will discuss health and development research happening in Britain.
While in London, Gates said, he hopes to meet Prime Minister Theresa May, having previously held meetings with leaders Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron.
Gates told his interviewer he is hopeful Brexit doesn't impact on research, stating: ‘Our foundation puts a lot of money into [British universities] because they are the best in the world.
'So obviously we hope the smart people can continue to move back and forth between Europe and the UK.
'I doubt a mistake will get made.'
