Bill Gates Seen Hesitantly Trying Durian At Newton Food Centre
The Microsoft co-founder was seen in a video tentatively taking a couple of bites of the pongy fruit before frowning, shrugging and setting it aside. He was in Singapore for the Philanthropy Asia Summit 2025.
It's not every day that you get to eat inches away from one of the world's richest men. Just ask diners who were at Newton Food Centre on Tuesday (May 6) evening. American billionaire and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was seen at the iconic hawker centre, indulging in various Singaporean hawker staples including chicken rice, satay, and the king of fruit, durian.
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In videos uploaded by social media users who were at Newton Food Centre, Gates can be seen trying durian – and not being too impressed by it. He appeared to brace himself before tentatively taking a couple of bites of the fruit before frowning, shrugging, then putting the partially-nibbled piece down.
In another video, he is seen savouring a spread of hawker dishes while being interviewed.
Gates Foundation co-founder Bill Gates and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on May 5, 2025.
Photo: Ministry of Digital Development and Information/Betty Chua
Bill Gates was in Singapore to speak at the Philanthropy Asia Summit 2025, where he announced that his non-profit organisation, the Gates Foundation, will be opening an office in the country.
During the event, Gates met with various politicians, including Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Source: CNA/hq
The original version of this story first appeared in CNA.
For more CNA stories, visit https://www.channelnewsasia.com/.
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