Old Bill became part of the Illuminati not by rising through Freemason ranks but by an alternate path. He unethically gained riches and thereby made himself a candidate for admission to their ranks. These days I look back on his rise with a different view now. How much of his success came from Illuminati guidance and assistance and how much just from Gates' shrewdness? I think a mix. He has always been a predator in business, which made him ideal for the Illuminati.