Bill Gates buys Jenny Craig’s Rancho Santa Fe horse farm

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has bought Jenny Craig’s upscale horse facility in Rancho Santa Fe for $18 million, the Los Angeles Times has confirmed.

The 228-acre palm-tree studded Rancho Paseana in San Diego County was a premier training site for thoroughbreds until the weight-loss guru closed it last year.

Amenities include four 30-stall barns, a 21-stall barn, a three-quarter-mile racetrack, veterinarian space, olive orchards and wells. The four large barns include staff quarters for up to 32 with kitchenettes and bathrooms.

There are two guest or manager houses.

The property, which is made up of four parcels, had been listed for sale at prices ranging from $24.995 million to $30 million before it was removed from the open market. One of the parcels is leased to a golf course.

Gates, 58, bought the ranch for family use.

Craig, 82, founded the weight-loss company bearing her name in the early 1980s with her husband, Sidney Craig, who developed the horse farm. She also has a beachfront home in nearby Del Mar for sale at close to $40 million.

Catherine and Jason Barry of Barry Estates were the listing agents.

Twitter: @LATHotProperty