WASHINGTON: The world’s richest man might seem to have it all, but Bill Gates has one regret. The self-made billionaire said he felt stupid for not knowing any foreign languages. Speaking in his third Ask Me Anything question-and-answer session for online forum Reddit, the Microsoft founder revealed that he wished he spoke French, Arabic or Chinese.
He said: ‘I took Latin and Greek in high school and got A’s and I guess it helps my vocabulary. ‘I keep hoping to get time to study one of these – probably French because it is the easiest. I did Duolingo for a while but didn’t keep it up.’
Gates, who is worth $79.3billion, praised Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg for stunning an audience in Beijing when he spoke fluent Mandarin.
He said: ‘Mark Zuckerberg amazingly learned Mandarin and did a Q&A with Chinese students – incredible.’ Owner of a mansion worth more than $120million in his hometown of Medina, Washington, Gates’ admission over language is not the first time he has given insight into his domestic habits and personal insights.
Last February, Gates said he likes to do the dishes himself – to his own exacting standards every night and shared the eyebrow-raising revelation that his wife, Melinda, would likely want Samuel L Jackson to play her husband in a biopic.
He also admitted that he would pick up a $100 bill if he found it on the street. During the session yesterday, the 59-year-old said that he loves BBQ sauce but avoids it before TV appearances because he tends to spill it, his biggest splurge is having a private jet and he enjoys Indian and Thai food.
He also revealed who he is rooting for in the upcoming Superbowl, which he said should be no surprise.
