It’s safe to say most of us did not see this coming! Bitcoin’s mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, briefly climbed higher than Bill Gates on the global wealth chart. But as quickly as it happened, a Bitcoin price drop pulled Nakamoto back down. Still, the moment sparked a fresh wave of interest in crypto’s most famous ghost and the fortune they’re quietly sitting on.
Nakamoto’s wallet, believed to hold 1.1 million BTC – around 5% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply – recently reached a massive $113.8 billion, according to blockchain analytics firm Arkham.
That briefly put him ahead of Bill Gates, whose fortune stood at $112.9 billion, based on Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires list. It was enough to make Nakamoto the 12th richest person in the world, if only for a moment. The surge was driven by optimism around a potential U.S.–China trade deal, which helped push Bitcoin’s price higher.
But the Lead Didn’t Last Long
The crypto market, as always, had other plans. Bitcoin’s price slipped again, bringing Nakamoto’s estimated net worth back to around $114 billion as of May 31, 2025. Meanwhile, Gates’ net worth has risen to $166.3 billion, putting a wide gap back between the two.
Nakamoto’s true identity remains one of crypto’s biggest unanswered questions. Since Bitcoin launched in 2009, people have speculated that it could be Nick Szabo, Len Sassaman, or Peter Todd.
In 2024, a documentary titled Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery pointed the finger at Peter Todd but he quickly denied any connection. That only added to the legend of Satoshi: a billionaire who might not even know they’re currently one of the wealthiest people alive.
Topping Elon Musk, who currently has a net worth of $422.7 billion, would be a much bigger jump. For Nakamoto to match Musk, Bitcoin would need to skyrocket to $406,000 per coin. It sounds far-fetched, but in crypto, strange things happen all the time and this recent Gates moment proved that anything’s possible.
This back-and-forth between Nakamoto and Gates shows just how unpredictable crypto can be. If Bitcoin rallies again, Nakamoto could easily reclaim the edge especially with Gates’ wealth holding steady.
As the market keeps moving, the crypto world is watching closely – because in this game, one price spike could change everything.
No, Satoshi’s identity remains a mystery despite many theories; recent claims have been denied by the suspected individuals.
Yes, but Bitcoin would need to reach $406,000 per coin for Nakamoto to match Elon Musk’s current net worth.
Satoshi Nakamoto is believed to hold about 1.1 million BTC, roughly 5% of Bitcoin’s total circulating supply.
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