Bill Gates may be the second-richest person in the world in 2020 , but he still has a reputation for being frugal . The Microsoft co-founder purchased a US$43 million house in California in March, but that is just one of the rare indulgent moments where he shelled out so much money. Here are three more surprising items that the multi-billionaire bought for a hefty price tag. US$36 million tea cup? 14 crazy ways billionaires have splashed cash Leonardo da Vinci’s 16th century journal View this post on Instagram Il Codice sul volo degli uccelli fu compilato da #Leonardo per la maggior parte a Firenze nel 1505. Riguarda soprattutto lo studio del volo battente e delle manovre di equilibrio degli uccelli in presenza di vento, inteso come motore: Leonardo cercò di ricreare i movimenti degli uccelli con ali meccaniche di grandi dimensioni manovrate dall’uomo mediante corde e pulegge. Convinto di essere sulla strada giusta, annunciò profeticamente l’imminente evento del volo dell’uomo-uccello,che riempirà il mondo di meraviglia! Il Codice fu molto probabilmente lasciato in eredità da Leonardo a Francesco Melzi, che lo riportò in Italia dalla Francia. Dopo secoli di vendite e passaggi di proprietà, fu donato da un collezionista russo al Re d’Italia nel 1893 e fu collocato nella #bibliotecarealeTorino, dove si conserva ancora oggi. I fogli 7v e 8r sono in mostra a “L’acqua microscopio della natura. Il #CodiceLeicester di Leonardo da Vinci”, Aula Magliabechiana degli #Uffizi, fino al 20 gennaio. E N G: The “Codex on the Flight of Birds” was written by Leonardo almost completely in Florence in 1505. It concerns all the wing-propelled kinds of flight. Through the use of mechanical solutions, Leonardo attempted to emulate the movements that he extremely carefully observed. He especially studied birds’ handling of balance in the presence of wind, which in this case plays the role of engine. He designed large mechanical wings that were supposed to be moved by man through the use of ropes and pulleys. Leonardo was sure of being on the right track, and prophetically announced the imminent event of the first man-bird’s flight, which would have arisen awesome wonder all over the world! Almost certainly he left the Codex to his pupil Francesco Melzi, who brought it back from France to Italy. The Codex passed from hand to hand until a Russian collector gave it as a present to the King of Italy in 1893. The work was displayed in the Royal Library of Turin, where it is still preserved. The sheets 7v and 8r are on view at “Water as Microscope of Nature. Leonardo da Vinci’s #CodexLeicester” exhibition in Aula Magliabechiana, Uffizi, until 20 January. Music by Oliveir Messiaen. A post shared by Gallerie degli Uffizi (@uffizigalleries) on Dec 12, 2018 at 6:01am PST Back in 1994, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation co-founder spent US$30.8 million at an auction to get a hold of the Codex Leicester , a 72-page collection of scientific writings and sketches by Leonardo da Vinci. Written between 1506 and 1510, the Renaissance journal is housed in Gates’ massive library – but he occasionally loans it to museums to share to the public. A Bombardier BD-700 Global Express private jet View this post on Instagram Thank you for being a friend, Warren. #BestFriendsDay A post shared by Bill Gates (@thisisbillgates) on Jun 8, 2019 at 11:14am PDT If there is anything that Bill Gates considers his “guilty pleasure” and his “big splurge”, it is his US$40 million Bombardier BD-700 Global Express private jet. The business magnate explained that he uses it for his business travels during a 2018 interview with Ellen DeGeneres. Why are all these billionaires wearing watches that even you can afford? A trampoline room in his a US$127 million mansion View this post on Instagram As 2018 comes to a close, I always appreciate the opportunity to pause and reflect on the year – to give thanks for the bright spots and find lessons in the challenges. Here are some of my favorite memories from this year. A post shared by Melinda Gates (@melindafrenchgates) on Dec 29, 2018 at 8:58am PST Gates’ US$127 million mansion complex in Washington features a trampoline room with a six-metre (20-foot) ceiling. During an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit in 2019, he gushed about his exercise facility. “I have a nice house. It includes a trampoline room which seems kind of over the top but my kids love using it to work off their excess energy,” the tech billionaire shared. Considering his US$114 billion net worth, Bill Gates’ “splurges” are only a fraction of his massive fortune. Throughout the years, he and his wife Melinda have donated their wealth to global health and educational causes . There are actually two surprising things that the billionaire philanthropist refuses to spend on. Bill Gates isn’t big on accessories Despite his overflowing wealth, Gates has no interest in flaunting it on flashy jewellery – and even proudly shared that he was wearing a US$10 Casio timepiece during an event in 2014. Zuckerberg, Gates or Musk – who became a billionaire at the youngest age? And his wardrobe isn’t all that fly View this post on Instagram Happy birthday to my favorite person. @melindafrenchgates, you’ve had an amazing year. I can’t wait to see how you top it. A post shared by Bill Gates (@thisisbillgates) on Aug 15, 2019 at 7:11am PDT Just like fellow billionaires Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, Gates already has a go-to outfit – a simple V-neck sweater over a collared shirt, often in a shade of purple. He may be frugal on these common things for himself, but when it comes to Melinda, the multi-billionaire particularly likes to “buy nice things for my wife”. Want more stories like this? Sign up here . Follow STYLE on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Twitter .