New Delhi, Jan. 26 -- Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates praised the world's richest man Elon Musk's work, saying he "admires a lot he's done", but admitted that the Tesla chief's comments on European politics "surprised" him.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Bill Gates reflected on his childhood, autism and early start of Silicon valley tech juggernaut Microsoft. When asked about fellow billionaire Elon Musk, he said "I admire a lot of the work he has done."

When asked when was the last time he spoke to Elon Musk, Bill Gates said he has not spoken directly to the technocrat in around 18 months, adding: "I haven't spoken directly to him, may have been about 18 months. But, I've known Elon over the years, he's a member of...