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Bill Gates
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| Birth Date | October 28, 1955 |
| Birth Place | Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, Philanthropist |
| Known for | Co-founder of Microsoft Corporation, Philanthropy |
| Education | Harvard College (dropped out) |
William Henry Gates III (born October 28, 1955) is an American businessman, investor, philanthropist, and writer best known for co-founding the software company Microsoft with his childhood friend Paul Allen. Gates played a pivotal role in the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s.
Early Life and Education
Gates was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, to William H. Gates Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates. He attended the private Lakeside School, where he developed an early interest in computer programming. At age 13, Gates wrote his first software program. He later enrolled at Harvard College but dropped out to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions with Microsoft.
Career
In 1975, Gates and Allen founded Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Gates served as its chairman and CEO until 2000, overseeing its rise to become one of the world's leading technology companies. He was noted for his hands-on approach to software development and management style.
Under Gates's leadership, Microsoft developed software products that became industry standards, including the MS-DOS operating system and Microsoft Windows. His business practices, at times controversial, contributed to Microsoft's dominance in the software market during the 1990s.
Philanthropy
In 2000, Gates and his wife Melinda established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest private charitable foundation. The foundation focuses on global health and development, education, and climate change. Gates has donated substantial amounts to various charitable causes and scientific research programs. He co-founded The Giving Pledge with Warren Buffett, encouraging billionaires to commit to philanthropy.
Later Career and Legacy
Gates stepped down as CEO of Microsoft in 2000 but remained actively involved as chairman and later as technology adviser. He gradually transitioned to focus more on his philanthropic efforts, stepping down from his remaining board positions at Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway in 2020.
Personal Life
Gates has been consistently ranked among the world's wealthiest individuals by Forbes since 1987. He has authored several books and is involved in multiple ventures through his investment company, Cascade Investment, and other enterprises.
Recognition
Gates has received numerous honors for his contributions to technology and philanthropy, including being named Time's Person of the Year alongside his wife in 2005.
External links
- Forbes profile
- Bill Gates on IMDb