Well, that explains his Mario-tier jumping skills: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TCxE0bWQeQ

He talked about the trampoline on the Ellen Show, so yes, it still counts as a PR-y answer.

I'm not saying I think it was the BMGF in the AMA, but you think a publicist wouldn't say this? "Client watches X show and plays Y sport" would be a typical line to make someone appear more relatable. Politicians say these things all the time. It is not surprising that a publicist would try and make their client/employer seem normal.

Publicist sure, no. But this has been totally sanitized by Bill when he makes as one example statements like this: [1]

> 'The other thing is that I sometimes use a private jet. It does help me do my foundation work but again it is a very privileged thing to have.'

He inserts the word 'sometimes' to lessen the impact of 'private jet'. He adds that it helps him do foundation work implying that that should make it ok in normal people's eyes. [2] He doesn't mention that it's actually importantly needed for security purposes he is obviously a target and not flying like the general public. He then acknowledges that it's a privileged thing to have.

[1] Remember the movie "An Officer and a Gentlement" when Lou Gosset character fights Richard Gear character? And Gosset character replies (something like) 'oh I see you've had some training!'. Well Bill Gates has had training.

[2] Which is should be anyway. Without saying that.

If this is the same guy who was talking in front of congress and refusing to say that java was seen as a threat to MS 20 years ago, I believe he's capable of giving sanitized answers without a publicist. He's had years and years and years of practice. I hardly see a reddit AMA where you can choose your questions and response timing as much of a threat to someone like Bill. Sure, if it was musk but it's not.

Gates apparently flied coach until about 1997. I'm not his biggest fan, but I find that interesting about him.

I remember that.

That is a technique that is often used to impose frugality and get savings [1] out of the rest of the execs by setting an example. If he flies coach well then so do a hundred others.

[1] I knew a guy who owned a small company and bought a low end car until he had locked up his union contract. He knew if he was seen with a nice car it was going to cost him a boat load.

Likewise in my old school company years ago I never even drove up to the business in my nice car and I went out of my way to hide it's existence. It goes along with staying late and arriving early to set an example.

I think some people are naturally frugal. I always go out of my way to save money on business trips even when there's no benefit to doing so, and no drawback to spending the money.

I'll take Uber pools, walk, or take public transit even though I'm technically no restriction on my transportation spending. Likewise, unless I'm taking my team out to dinner, I'll usually grab a $10 gyro or something instead of going to a nice restaurant.

Interesting. I wouldn't put it past Gates to make that calculation.