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Bill Gates plays Secret Santa to Reddit user

One lucky Redditor received a travel book, a stuffed cow, and a donation in her name to a charity, though the Microsoft chairman decided against the iPad on her wishlist.

Lance Whitney Contributing Writer
Lance Whitney is a freelance technology writer and trainer and a former IT professional. He's written for Time, CNET, PCMag, and several other publications. He's the author of two tech books--one on Windows and another on LinkedIn.
Lance Whitney
2 min read
Microsoft Chairman and Secret Santa Bill Gates.
Microsoft Chairman and Secret Santa Bill Gates. CBS

Bill Gates as Santa Claus? That's the role he played to one girl on Reddit.

Excited and shocked when she learned the source behind her generous gift giving, Redditor Rachel detailed the exchange in a Redditgifts post Wednesday night. Served up by the folks at Reddit, Redditgifts is an online gift exchange where people become Secret Santas by exchanging presents with friends and strangers around the world.

Rachel unwrapped the gifts from her Secret Santa to discover a stuffed animal that she added to her teddy bear collection and a National Geographic coffee table book entitled "Journeys of a Lifetime." Also in the package was a donation to Heifer International made on Rachel's behalf, a gift that she said nailed it since the organization tries to offer an education and other benefits to people in need.

The true identity of Rachel's Secret Santa was finally revealed when she found a photo of Gates holding the stuffed animal and the signed donation sent to Heifer International. An inscription in the book with a "really nice message" and note from Gates wishing Rachel a Merry Christmas and a Happy Birthday was the topper.

"My God. Never in my entire life did I imagine, ever, ever, ever that Bill would get me," Rachel wrote in her post. "I am SO SO thankful for the time, thought ,and energy he put into my gift, and especially thankful for him over-nighting it :)"

One item on Rachel's wishlist wasn't part of the package -- an Apple iPad. But who needs an iPad when you manage to get Bill Gates as your Secret Santa?