According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder, currently owns a fortune worth $197 billion, making him the richest person in the world. Meanwhile, Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder, ranks fourth with $146 billion.
Beyond their enormous wealth, Bezos and Gates share a surprising habit: they both enjoy washing dishes. In a 2014 interview with Business Insider, the Amazon founder revealed that doing the dishes is part of his daily routine. “I believe it’s the most charming thing I do,” Bezos said.
That same year, Gates shared on Reddit that he also really enjoys washing dishes. “I often do the dishes, others volunteer, but I like the way I do it,” the billionaire explained.
While each billionaire has their own reasons for this hobby, scientists say washing dishes offers many benefits. Independent studies suggest it can reduce stress and boost creativity.
Research from Florida State University shows that people focus on breathing and sensory experiences (touch and smell) while washing dishes. This helps lower stress and increase inspiration. Also, concentrating on the feeling of warm water or the scent of soap stimulates brain activity.
Another study from the University of California, Santa Barbara found that repetitive tasks like dishwashing allow the brain to relax and come up with creative solutions to problems.
Jeff Bezos and his ex-wife MacKenzie divorced in 2019 after 25 years together. Recently, Bill and Melinda Gates also announced their split after 27 years of marriage.
