Naveed
Bill Gates was raised in a Protestant Congregationalist church and no longer attends regularly. Asked by Rolling Stone in 2014 whether he believes in God, he said: “I think it makes sense to believe in God, but exactly what decision in your life you make differently because of it, I don’t know.”
| Religion | Raised Protestant (Congregationalist); undeclared today |
|---|---|
| Status | Confirmed by his own interviews |
| Full name | William Henry Gates III |
| Born | October 28, 1955, Seattle, Washington, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Microsoft co-founder, philanthropist |
| Family background | Grew up attending a Congregationalist church in Seattle |
What Religion Is Bill Gates?
Gates grew up in a Congregationalist church, part of mainline Protestantism. He does not describe himself as a regular churchgoer and has avoided labels such as Christian, agnostic or atheist. His clearest statements come from a 2014 Rolling Stone interview.
In His Own Words
Asked directly about God, Gates said it “makes sense to believe in God,” but that he didn’t know what decision in life a person makes differently because of it.
He also said he agreed with Richard Dawkins that people once needed creation myths to explain disease and weather, and that science has filled in some, but not all, of the space religion used to fill. At the same time he called the moral systems of religion “super important.”
Raising His Children
Gates told Rolling Stone that he and Melinda French Gates raised their children “in a religious way,” and that they attended the Catholic church Melinda goes to, which he also took part in. The couple divorced in 2021.
FAQ
Does Bill Gates believe in God?
He said in 2014 that “it makes sense to believe in God,” without describing a specific religious practice.
Is Bill Gates Christian?
He was raised in a Protestant Congregationalist church, but he does not publicly identify with a denomination today.
Is Bill Gates Catholic?
No, though his children attended Melinda French Gates’s Catholic church.
Related Celebrities
Sources
- Rolling Stone: Bill Gates, the Rolling Stone interview (2014)
- Christian Post: Bill Gates reveals family goes to Catholic church
- RELEVANT: Bill Gates discusses God, church, charity and faith
Last updated: September 24, 2026.
