Bill Gates born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, U.S., is an American computer programmer and entrepreneur who was a co-founder of Microsoft Corporation, the world’s largest personal-computer software company. Gates’ early programming endeavors included writing his first software program at the age of 13 and co-founding Traf-O-Data, a company that sold traffic-counting systems. In 1975, while attending Harvard University, Gates partnered with Paul G. Allen to develop software for microcomputers.
The process began with the adaptation of BASIC, a widely used programming language for large computers, to be used on microcomputers. Following the success of this project, Gates departed from Harvard during his third year and, together with Allen, established Microsoft. Gates’s influence over the fledgling microcomputer industry grew significantly when Microsoft obtained a license for an operating system called MS-DOS to International Business Machines Corporation.
The leading computer supplier and industry leader at the time, for use on its inaugural microcomputer, the IBM PC. Upon the release of the machine in 1981, IBM promptly established the technical standard for the PC industry, and MS-DOS also displaced rival operating systems. Despite Microsoft’s independence causing tension with IBM, Gates adeptly maneuvered the larger company to make it reliant on him for essential software. Manufacturers of IBM-compatible PCs, or clones, also looked to Microsoft for their fundamental software. By the beginning of the 1990s, he had emerged as the ultimate influencer in the PC industry.
When was Bill Gates born?
Bill Gates was born on October 28, 1955.
How did Bill Gates become famous?
Bill Gates co-established the world’s largest personal-computer software company, Microsoft Corporation.
Where did Bill Gates go to college?
Bill Gates went to Harvard University but left in his third year to establish Microsoft with his friend Paul Allen.
What are Bill Gates’s major accomplishments?
Microsoft Corporation was founded by Bill Gates and his friend Paul Allen. Additionally, he established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to finance global health and development initiatives.
About Bill Gates
- Bill Gates turned his fortune from software firm Microsoft into diversified holdings including investments in zero-carbon energy companies
- In May 2021, Bill and Melinda Gates each announced on Twitter they were ending their marriage after 27 years. They still co-chair the charitable Gates Foundation.
- Gates, who cofounded Microsoft with Paul Allen (d. 2018) in 1975, transferred at least $6 billion worth of shares in public companies to Melinda as part of the divorce settlement.
- As of March 2020, when Gates stepped down from the Microsoft board, he owned about 1.3% of the software and computing company’s shares.
- He has invested in dozens of companies including Republic Services and Deere & Co., and is one of the largest owners of farmland in the U.S.
- To date, Gates has donated more than $59 billion to the Gates Foundation, including a $20 billion gift announced in July 2022. Most of his early donations were gifts of Microsoft stock.
Bill Gates Details
Age: 68
Source of Wealth: Microsoft, Self Made
Self-Made Score: 8
Philanthropy Score: 5
Residence: Medina, Washington
Citizenship: United States
Marital Status: Divorced
Children: 3
Education: Drop Out, Harvard University
Bill Gates Biography
Bill Gates is a famous American entrepreneur, humanitarian, and expert in computer programming. In 2021, he ranks as the third wealthiest individual in the United States, possessing a net worth exceeding $124 billion. Gates amassed much of his fortune through his founding of Microsoft. His contribution to Covid-19 relief includes a $1.75 billion donation for the manufacturing and distribution of medical supplies. Globally, Gates is admired for his philanthropic efforts and is widely regarded as a symbol of self-made achievement.
Early Life
Bill Gates entered the world on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, to parents William and Mary Gates. He was raised in an upper-middle-class household, with his father practicing law and his mother working as a schoolteacher before devoting her time to raising the children and charity work. Gates developed a love for reading at a young age, often delving into reference books like encyclopedias. He was recognized as a good student, although he tended to be introverted. At the age of 13, Gates was enrolled in Lakeside Preparatory School in Seattle, where he excelled in subjects such as math and science.
Bill Gates: History
Since 1987, Gates has appeared on the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires. He held the title of the richest person in the world from 1995 to 2017, with the exception of 2008 and the period from 2010 to 2013. In October 2017, he was surpassed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who had an estimated net worth of US$90.6 billion compared to Gates’s net worth of US$89.9 billion at the time. In the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans in 2023, he was ranked 6th with a wealth of $115.0 billion. As of 2024, Gates has an estimated net worth of US$148 billion, positioning him as the fifth-richest person in the world according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Following his departure from day-to-day operations at Microsoft in 2008, Gates has focused on other business and philanthropic ventures. He has established and chairs several companies, such as BEN, Cascade Investment, TerraPower, bgC3, and Breakthrough Energy. Gates has made substantial donations to charitable organizations and scientific research programs through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, recognized as the world’s largest private charity. Additionally, he spearheaded a vaccination campaign through the foundation, which played a significant role in eradicating the wild poliovirus in Africa. In 2010, Gates and Warren Buffett co-founded The Giving Pledge, a commitment by billionaires to donate at least half of their wealth to philanthropy.
Summary
Born in October of 1955, Bill Gates is an American businessman known for the creation of Microsoft and his charity work across the globe. Developing a strong interest in computing during his adolescence, he later dropped out of Harvard to found Microsoft with his friend and classmate Paul Allen. Microsoft went on to develop MS-DOS, which became the standard operating system for IBM computers. This success led to competition with Apple to develop user-friendly software and operating systems, such as Windows. The company continued to grow in 1995 when public interest in the Internet grew, leading to the release of successful products such as Windows CE and Internet Explorer. This huge growth led to investigations into Microsoft for unfair marketing practices. Gates eventually stepped down as CEO in 2000 and focused his energy on work with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which practices venture philanthropy. Some of the foundation’s projects involve health, education, and expansion of low-income Internet access. As of 2021, Gates is the third richest man in the United States, making him a national symbol of hard work and determination. He is considered a self-made success, using his money to give back to those less fortunate.
What is Bill Gates Known For?
- Creating an algorithm for pancake sorting
- Making the Traf-O-Data based on the Intel 8008 processor
- Serving as a congressional page in the House of Representatives
- Working at Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS) with Allen
Gates and Allen created an Altair emulator and a BASIC interpreter for a minicomputer, impressing MITS and leading to a deal to distribute the interpreter as Altair BASIC. This deal prompted Gates and Allen to establish Microsoft, a blend of “microcomputer” and “software.” Microsoft later developed MS-DOS for the IBM PC, the first personal computer, which attracted other companies like Apple to develop user-friendly software. Apple, led by Steve Jobs at the time, requested Microsoft to create software for Macintosh computers, leading to a collaboration where Apple granted Microsoft full access to its technology. Gates advised Apple to license their more user-friendly operating system, but Apple declined, setting the stage for future conflict when Microsoft’s Windows operating system bore a resemblance to Macintosh software. Apple sued Microsoft over this, but ultimately lost the case.
