The world's richest nerd and champion of bad hair cuts, Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, is believed to have begun building a giant secret lair within the remains of an extinct volcano east of Seattle.

A spokesperson for Bill Gate's private business subsidiaries released a statement today. "Mister Gates categorically denies that he has begun building a giant secret base from which to conduct a quest for total global domination. However, we are currently recruiting excavators, nuclear scientists and security personnel who do not mind working nights and some travel. A willingness to kill innocent people and government secret agents on command, and ninja skills, would prove useful to the position. Please see advertisements in local newspapers and online recruiting agencies."

Despite his denials, it appears that Bill Gates has held a desire to control the world since he was a child. His kindergarten teacher, Sheryl Martinez, told Brainsnap that the young Bill frequently told his class mates he would one day be emperor of the universe.

"The other kids would then normally break his glasses and beat him up. He was such a nerd; even I had to stop myself from giving him a wedgie. I guess that sort of childhood might twist and warp a young boy."

Bill Gates used this childhood trauma to become the most ruthless and richest business man on the planet. However, the wealth and power he has attained does not seem enough. It appears that he has never lost that kindergarten dream to become world ruler.

"Bill is sick of cool guys like President Bush, Tony Blair and Kofi Annan ruling the show," says Gate's close friend and confidant, James Squiring. "They never give him respect. Whenever he's at a major political and business summit they refuse to play with him. And last year in Geneva, George Bush gave him a wedgie in front of the G8 leaders. He hasn't quite got over that humiliation yet."

Gates, it seems, has been gradually been moving toward his world conquering goal for several years. In 2004, he bought a Portland aquarium which contained several man eating sharks, electric eels and piranhas. These fish were shortly transported to a secret destination and have not been seen since.

A former aquarium worker, who was contracted by Gates to look after the fish during transportation, told Brainsnap that they were driven by truck through a secret passage way into a mountain. The fish were then placed into large pools deep underground with trap doors above them. "I was told by Mister Gates personally that the trap doors were there for feeding the fish. He then laughed maniacally and stroked a white cat until I left the room."

As yet Brainsnap has been unable to attain an interview with Mister Gates, due to his busy schedule. His press secretary said that he was currently engaged with a difficult matter involving MI6 and the CIA and as soon as certain pesky problems were eliminated he would be free to speak with us. So stay tuned.