Augusta National famously hosts The Masters every April – a tournament that golf fans regard to be one of the most prestigious in the game, if not the most prestigious.
So much intrigue surrounds The Masters and indeed, Augusta National Golf Club itself.
Augusta has some of the strictest rules and regulations of any golf club in the world.
As most people know, becoming a member at Augusta National is one of the most difficult things to do.
Bill Gates is one of the members at Augusta
Gates is currently the 18th richest man in the world, with a personal fortune worth around $103 billion (Forbes).
Why Bill Gates is allowed to wear a Green Jacket at Augusta National
Gates is an incredibly powerful person due to his astronomical wealth.
One of the big bonuses of having acquired so much wealth and power is the fact that he was able to secure a membership at Augusta National more than a decade ago.
Being a member at Augusta comes with genuinely amazing perks.
At Augusta National, only past winners of The Masters or club members are permitted to wear the famous green jacket on the premises.
Crucially, taking the green jacket off premises is a strict no-no.
However, this rule does not apply to the defending champion, who is allowed to take the jacket away from Augusta National for 12 months.
Gates is permitted to wear a green jacket whenever he is on the property at Augusta.
What a thrill that must be for the members, even those who have been part of the club for decades. It must never get old.
Augusta currently has around 300 members, so Gates is one of the very few people in the world who have been given the same privilege as every Masters champion throughout the years.
Augusta National’s long list of famous members
Another of the world’s richest men – Warren Buffett – is a long-time member of Augusta.
Sporting legends like Jack Nicklaus, Peyton Manning, Lou Holtz and Wayne Gretzky are also all said to be members.
Meanwhile, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice became the first female member of Augusta back in 2021.
Having unlimited funds is not a guarantee of being able to join Augusta National Golf Club.
You have to first know a member and if you do, you’re then thoroughly vetted before being approved for membership.
The joining fee at Augusta is said to be around $40,000-50,000 while yearly fees are believed to be anywhere from $7,000 to $10,000.
That kind of money is mere pocket change to Bill Gates. The fact that he’s able to wear a green jacket while on the premises at Augusta will undoubtedly be priceless to him, though.
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