What Watch Does Bill Gates Wear? The $70 Casio Behind the Billionaire

Featured image: Joshua Clare-Flagg, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bill Gates is most often photographed wearing a Casio Duro (reference MDV-106), a stainless steel quartz dive watch that sells for around $50 to $80. It is the watch he is most closely associated with, even though he is one of the wealthiest people alive.

The watch Bill Gates wears most: Casio Duro MDV-106

The Duro is a no-nonsense Japanese quartz diver with a black sunray dial, a 120-click rotating bezel and a screw-down crown. Collectors nicknamed it the “Marlin” because of the billfish printed on the dial. Gates has been photographed in one at public appearances over the years, and one review notes he wore the MDV-106 on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. It is the watch people think of first when his name comes up.

We have a full breakdown of this model in our Casio Duro review. Here is the short version.

Spec	Casio Duro MDV-106
Case size	About 44 mm wide, 12 mm thick, roughly 48.5 mm lug to lug
Case material	Stainless steel
Crystal	Flat mineral glass
Movement	Japanese quartz (Casio module 2784), three hands plus date
Water resistance	200 meters, screw-down crown and caseback
Strap	22 mm resin
Approximate price	Around $50 to $80

Why a billionaire wears a cheap watch

Gates has never given a detailed public explanation of his watch choice, so any “reason” is interpretation. What is observable is that a quartz Casio fits his low-key image: it is accurate, durable, easy to read and costs less than a nice dinner. For a man whose day is scheduled to the minute, a watch that simply keeps good time is arguably the most logical choice.

The Duro also happens to be a genuinely good piece of design for the money. It launched around 2011 at roughly $50, and it has stayed in the sub-$100 bracket ever since, which is a big part of why enthusiasts keep recommending it.

Other watches linked to Bill Gates

• Casio digital “Illuminator” watches: Several watch blogs say Gates has also worn a basic Casio digital with a backlight, usually a model in the W-214H family that sells for around $25. This is a secondhand identification from photos rather than something Gates has confirmed, so treat the exact reference as unproven. The broader point, that he often wears simple Casios, is widely reported.
• TAG Heuer Professional 2000: It has been reported that Gates owned a TAG Heuer Professional 2000 and gave one to a Microsoft employee. Treat this as an anecdote rather than a confirmed ownership record. The Professional 2000 is a 1980s and 1990s TAG Heuer quartz dive watch family.
• Microsoft SPOT smart watch: This one is well documented. At the 2003 Consumer Electronics Show keynote, Gates presented watches built on Microsoft’s Smart Personal Objects Technology, with Citizen, Fossil and Suunto announced as partners. They received news, weather and other data over FM radio signals and were an early attempt at what we now call a smartwatch. Whether he wore one daily is not recorded, but he was the face of the launch.
• Casio G-Shock: Some articles say he has been seen in G-Shocks. We could not find a specific, reliably documented reference, so we list it only as a possibility.

Other business heavyweights often go the same understated route. Warren Buffett is another billionaire known for modest, practical choices, though his watch is a gold Rolex rather than a Casio.

A quick history of the Duro

Casio has made rugged, inexpensive watches for decades, and the MDV-106 is one of its best-known budget divers. The simplicity is the point: there are no complications beyond the date, no sapphire crystal and no in-house movement, only a solid case and a dependable module.

That durability is why it works as a travel or beach watch. If it gets scratched or lost, replacing it costs less than a taxi ride from the airport.

Watches like Bill Gates’ Duro

If you like the idea of a tough, inexpensive diver, a few real alternatives sit in a similar range. Prices are approximate and move with retailer sales.

• Casio Duro MDV-106 itself, around $50 to $80, the obvious pick.
• Casio Duro MDV-107, usually under $100, similar layout with a different dial design.
• Orient Kamasu or Mako line, roughly $150 to $300, if you want an automatic movement.
• Seiko 5 Sports diver-style models, roughly $250 to $400, a step up in finish with an automatic movement.

For more on what makes a good diver at any budget, see our guide to the best dive watches. If you wear yours near water, our explainer on water resistant vs waterproof is worth a read.

FAQ

What watch does Bill Gates wear every day?

The Casio Duro MDV-106 is the watch he is most consistently photographed wearing. There is no public confirmation that he wears it literally every day.

How much is Bill Gates’ watch worth?

The Casio Duro typically retails for about $50 to $80, depending on the retailer and the strap or bracelet version.

Does Bill Gates own any luxury watches?

There is no well-documented luxury collection. The most cited anecdote is a TAG Heuer Professional 2000, which he reportedly gave away.

Is the Casio Duro a real dive watch?

It is rated to 200 meters with a screw-down crown and a unidirectional bezel, which are the practical features of a dive watch. It is not ISO 6425 certified, so it is not rated for professional diving, but it is more than enough for swimming and snorkeling.

Sources

• IZ Review: Casio MDV106 Duro dive watch review
• HiConsumption: Casio Duro MDV106-1A review
• RubberB: Bill Gates watch collection
• Microsoft News: SPOT-based wristwatches at CES (2003)