Notice something about Bill Gates in the attached video? Shuffling along a procession at Cambridge University, the Microsoft founder is the only dignitary without a tie. And he looks plenty sheepish about it.

"Bill Gates shocks Cambridge with open-collared shirt" said the Seattle Examiner, before calling the billionaire's wardrobe a "call to action for all laid back Seattle business executives, as well as tech geeks everywhere."

Quite the opposite, actually. Gates can go casual while accepting an honorary degree precisely because of his power; mere peons will find a highly irregular wardrobe has real consequences in the real world. It's the same deal with Gates' new ranch in a desolate stretch of Wyoming: you buy one if you're in such demand you must flee all large clusters of humans.

(UPDATE: The tie item originally appeared in TechFlash.)

(Video via Cambridge News; image by AP)