Reddit user’s Secret Santa turns out to be Bill Gates

A woman named Rachel recently received a gift in the mail as part of Reddit's annual Secret Santa program.

Inside, a card read: "To Rachel, From Bill."

It took her a while to figure out that "Bill" was actually billionaire Bill Gates.

Her gift was a beautiful travel book and a stuffed cow toy — and a donation of an actual cow to Heifer International in her honour.

She was impressed. Her Secret Santa had done his homework: Rachel is passionate about travel and education.

"By the way, the charity 'gives families in need the right tools — such as animals, seeds, clean water, safe stoves or a chance for girls to go to school.' The last part was/is my favourite, since my master's degree is in education and I am SO into educational benefits for all. It makes me so happy that he was able to donate to a charity on my behalf that helped people with both needs and educational benefits. Nailed it, Bill!" she wrote on RedditGifts.com.

Then she opened the card.

"All the presents I just tore open, the charity, then everything — was from Bill GATES. I quickly went back to the book to see a really nice message and note from Bill wishing me a Merry Christmas and a Happy Birthday (not pictured, because I really want to keep one part of this gift to myself) my jaw hit the EVER LOVING FLOOR," she wrote.

"I went back to all the other gifts completely shocked. Then I paused for a minute and thought, what if this is someone screwing with me. Well of course Mr. Bill Gates already thought of this and took a picture of himself with my stuffed animal and a sign and then sent me the stuffed animal and sign."

A spokesperson for Gates toldGeekWire that one of the motivations for Gates participating in the Secret Santa program was to bring attention to Heifer International. The Microsoft-cofounder also had a great experience chatting with Redditors in an AMA (Ask Me Anything) earlier this year and wanted to stay engaged with the community.

Because her famous "Secret Santa" didn't give her a return address, Rachel expressed her thanks on RedditGifts, hoping Gates would read it:

"Thank you so much Bill for a fantastic and thoughtful gift. I'd really love to send a thank you card to you, but if not, I hope this post and message suffices. Thank you so much!!!!!! I will think of you every time I read my book, which will find a nice home on my coffee table once I'm done reading it."

"10/10 would receive gift from Bill Gates again," she added.

Read her entire Secret Santa experience here.

She ends her post with a great apology:

"PS: Sorry for the Apple iPad on my wish list, that was really awkward."