As the founder of Microsoft Corporation, Bill Gates is a renowned American businessman, inventor, and philanthropist. He was born William Henry Gates III on October 28, 1955, to William Gates Sr. and Mary Gates.
From a very young age, Gates was interested in technology. He began learning about computing and GE tech at the age of 13. After gaining acceptance to Harvard University, Gates continued to explore his passion through computer science classes.
After two years there, Gates left before graduating to work for Honeywell in 1974. He worked on private projects in his free time, launching Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975. Microsoft quickly picked up steam due to its revolutionary designs. In 1980, Gates partnered with IBM to develop a personal computer system.
This system would go on to revolutionize the tech world. Gates’s first Windows program was launched in 1985, allowing home computer owners to use their machines easily.
Over the years, Windows continued to innovate, launching new versions of Windows, and several Microsoft Office programs to make personal computing even easier and more effective.
Microsoft is currently the largest PC software company worldwide, with revenues of roughly $90 billion a year. They are responsible for a variety of software, computers, mobile phones, and the Xbox gaming console.
In 2000, Gates announced that he would be stepping down as the CEO of Microsoft. He transitioned to the role of Chief Software Architect instead, which allows him to innovate still while not focusing so much on the running of the company itself.
Gates continued to work full time at Microsoft until 2006 when he moved to part-time work. With his more open schedule, Gates chose to devote much of his time and money to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that he runs with his wife, Melinda Gates.
This charitable organization is the largest private foundation worldwide. It has roughly £38 billion of assets that are put towards achieving charitable goals. Due to his philanthropic giving, Gates stepped down from being the richest man in the world, a title he held from 1995 to 2017.
He is still one of the largest individual shareholders in Microsoft, resulting in a massive personal fortune. Currently, much of that fortune goes towards his charitable goals of improving healthcare, education, and technology around the world.