Get All Access for $5/mo

Bill Gates Would Take These 8 Songs to a Desert Island The Microsoft co-founder considered that question on Sunday in a rare interview with Kirsty Young, host of BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.

By Claire Zillman

This story originally appeared on Fortune Magazine

REUTERS | Gus Ruelas

With an estimated net worth of $77 billion, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates can certainly afford all the music he pleases, but what few songs would he want if he was stuck on a desert island?

Gates considered that question on Sunday in a rare interview with Kirsty Young, host of BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.

Guests on Young's show are allowed a Bible, the complete works of Shakespeare, a book of their choice and a luxury for their hypothetical island stay. And when choosing what songs he'd take along, Gates provided some insight into past experiences and some of the people who influenced him the most.

1. "Under Pressure" by David Bowie and Queen

Gates said this tune reminded him of the disco days of his 20s and 30s.

2. "Blue Skies" by Willie Nelson

Gates said he and his wife Melinda both love Nelson, and the country crooner serenaded the couple on the night before their wedding.

3. "Sing" by Ed Sheeran

Gates' three children "refresh" his taste in music, he told Young. This song is a favorite of his 13-year-old daughter Phoebe.

4. "Are You Experienced" by Jimi Hendrix

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen would taunt Gates with the title of this song when Gates hadn't "gotten drunk or other various things," Gates said on Sunday.

5. "One" by U2

Gates, who's also the co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has partnered with U2 lead singer Bono on global health issues. Gates on Sunday called Bono "absolutely amazing."

6. "Two of Us" by The Beatles

This is a favorite of Gates because Apple co-founder Steve Jobs once told him it was "kind of like this journey we'd been on where we'd been competing and working together."

7. "How Can Love Survive" from The Sound of Music

Warren Buffett inspired Gates' love for this song, which is featured in the Broadway version of The Sound of Music but not in the movie of the musical. Buffett and his first wife sang it when Warren and Gates met for the first time.

8. "My Shot," from Hamilton

This song from the new musical about Alexander Hamilton "[is] about a young person saying, "Hey, I'm going to take a risk. I'm going to get out there and try and do something new and different.'" Gates said.

Gates chose The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker as his book of choice. In it, the Harvard psychology professors argues that people have become more humane over time.

Claire Zillman is a writer at Fortune.com

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.

Growing a Business

5 Reasons Why Time-Tracking Can Put Your Business in a Chokehold

More and more businesses are adopting time-tracking software to manage their operations, but is it all it's cracked out to be?

Business News

Looking for a Remote Job? Here Are the Most In-Demand Skills to Have on Your Resume, According to Employers.

Employers are looking for interpersonal skills like teamwork as well as specific coding skills.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Franchise

The Top 10 Coffee Franchises in 2024

From a classic cup of joe to a creamy latte, grab your favorite mug and get ready to brew up success with the best coffee franchises.