Bill Gates, the retired founder of Microsoft who spends most of his time running the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is renting a place in Florida this winter. And when you're balling like Bill Gates, dropping $600,000 per month on rent ain't a thang.

Related Post: Bill Gates Net Worth

Gates, his wife Melinda and their three kids plan to spend December through May in this $13 million Tuscan-style mansion. The Gates family is shacking up here to support their daughter Jennifer's passion for horse riding and show jumping. Jennifer Gates competes on a junior circuit for equestrian sports and plans to compete in the upcoming Winter Equestrian festival. She also owns several prized ponies.

The big feature that drew Bill Gates and his family to Mallet Hill area of Wellington in Florida is it's within trotting distance to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, which is where the Winter Festival Jennifer is competing in is located.

The home is located in a gated community in which most of the properties come equipped with equestrian facilities. The Gates' rental includes a barn and horse-training area. Its circular driveway also has a horse head fountain, to keep with the equestrian theme.

The house was built in 1997 and is 7,300 square feet on a 4 acre lot., with eight bedrooms and six bathrooms. As with all any 8-figure mansion, this home comes with the obligatory media/screening room, tasting room and wine cellar. There are also several outdoor living spaces for enjoying the Florida weather.

This uber-rich neighborhood has also drawn another billionaire and his equestrian-competing kid, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and daughter Georgina Bloomberg. The Bloomberg's are just a few houses down, so expect the other neighbors to have to put up with noisy ponies galloping around at any hour of the night and annoying arguments about who's pony is the prettiest at local BBQs.

Gates also has the option to buy this estate for $13 million. Pop singer Madonna was rumored to be a potential buyer at one poinnt, but ended up buying a horse farm in The Hamptons, New York instead. While $13 million and $600,000 rent sounds expensive, it's not so bad when your regular home is worth $148 million.

Related Post: Bill Gates House

And because I'll probably never have to say it again unless I end up a super-rich: EQUESTRIAN!