Bill Gates

William Henry Gates III, born on October 28, 1955, is an American businessman and philanthropist best known for co-founding the software company Microsoft in 1975 with his childhood friend Paul Allen. As a pioneer of the microcomputer revolution during the 1970s and 1980s, Gates played a key role in shaping the modern technology world. Following Microsoft's initial public offering in 1986, he became the world's youngest billionaire at age 31 in 1987. For many years, he was ranked among the wealthiest people globally.

Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Gates developed an early interest in computing while attending Lakeside School. He later studied at Harvard University but left to focus on building Microsoft into a leading global company. Over the years, he held several top positions at Microsoft, including CEO, president, chairman of the board, and chief software architect.

Beyond business, Gates is widely recognized for his philanthropic efforts through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he co-chaired with his then-wife, Melinda French Gates. The foundation has supported health initiatives targeting diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and polio, as well as education and poverty alleviation projects around the world. His work in giving back inspired many, including co-founding the Giving Pledge in 2010 with Warren Buffett, encouraging billionaires to donate a large portion of their wealth to charitable causes.

Early life and education

William Henry Gates III was born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, to William H. Gates Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates. His parents encouraged his interest in computers from a young age. At age 13, Gates attended Lakeside Prep School, where he first learned to program computers. He and his friends used computer time to write programs and even started a small club to earn money by finding problems in other people's computer programs.

Gates later attended Harvard University but left after two years to start his own company with a childhood friend, Paul Allen. Despite leaving Harvard, Gates remained interested in solving tough math problems and even created a clever way to sort numbers that was very fast for many years.

Microsoft

Further information: History of Microsoft and Microsoft § History

Bill Gates and his friend Paul Allen started Microsoft in 1975. They created software for early personal computers. Their big break came when they made an operating system for IBM’s first personal computer. This helped Microsoft grow into a huge company.

Gates was very involved in the company’s work, even writing some of the computer code himself in the early days. Later, he focused more on managing the company. Microsoft made many popular products, including Windows, which became the most used operating system in the world. Gates stepped down from his daily work at Microsoft in 2008 to focus on charity work.

Post-Microsoft

Since leaving his day-to-day role at Microsoft, Bill Gates has focused on philanthropy and other projects. He stepped down as chairman of Microsoft in February 2014 to become a technology advisor, supporting the new CEO, Satya Nadella.

Gates has shared his views on many issues, including climate change and technology. He has also talked about his concerns regarding the future, such as the risks of superintelligence. During the TED conference in March 2015, Gates warned about the world's readiness for pandemics, a concern that became very relevant with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019. His foundation has worked on developing treatments for COVID-19. Gates has also been involved in various business ventures and investments across multiple sectors.

Climate change and energy

Bill Gates believes that climate change and global access to energy are very important issues. He has encouraged governments and businesses to invest in research to make clean energy cheaper and more reliable. Gates thinks that new discoveries in sustainable energy could help reduce pollution, support poorer communities, and stabilize energy prices.

In 2015, Gates talked about the challenge of changing the world’s energy system from fossil fuels to cleaner sources. He thinks this change can happen faster today because of quicker innovation and the urgent need to act. Gates started two big projects at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris: Mission Innovation, where governments agreed to increase spending on clean energy research, and Breakthrough Energy, a group of investors supporting new clean energy ideas. He has also supported important climate laws, like the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which aims to cut down pollution and help limit global warming.

Political positions

In October 2024, Bill Gates donated $50 million to support a group working for a political campaign. He didn’t say much about it, but he did mention that this election was important.

Bill Gates has shared his thoughts on many topics. He once said that banning certain people from social media platforms might cause problems. He also talked about vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, explaining why he thought it was important for companies to keep control of their inventions. Additionally, Gates has spoken out against cryptocurrencies, saying they don’t help society and can be risky for everyday investors.

Philanthropy

In an interview with the BBC in 2025, Gates said his charitable donations have totalled $100 billion, with $60 billion going to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Gates created the "William H. Gates Foundation" in 1994 and, in 2000, combined three family foundations to create the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It is the world’s largest charitable foundation, with assets over $34.6 billion. The foundation focuses on global health, education, and development. It supports efforts to fight diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and helps provide clean water and improve sanitation in poor countries. It also supports education, including libraries and scholarships, and works on global policy issues.

Gates has also made personal donations to universities, such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University. He has supported global health initiatives, including fighting Alzheimer's disease, and has committed to giving away most of his wealth through the "Giving Pledge." He has also participated in charity sports events, like playing tennis matches to raise money for children in Africa.

Books

Bill Gates has written several books. His first major book, The Road Ahead, written with Nathan Myhrvold and Peter Rinearson, came out in 1995. It talked about how computers would change our lives. Later, in 1999, he wrote Business @ the Speed of Thought, showing how technology could help businesses do better.

Gates also wrote about big problems facing the world. In 2021, he published How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, sharing ideas to fight climate change. After the COVID-19 pandemic, he wrote How to Prevent the Next Pandemic in 2022, suggesting ways to stop future pandemics. His first memoir, Source Code, was released in February 2025.

Personal life

Bill Gates enjoys many hobbies, including reading, playing bridge, golf, and tennis. Even with his busy schedule and great wealth, he used to fly in regular economy class until 1997 when he bought a private jet.

In the 1990s, Gates built a large home in Medina, Washington designed by architects James Cutler and Peter Bohlin. This home, sometimes called "Xanadu 2.0," has many special features like a big swimming pool and a large gym. He also collects important artworks and scientific items, such as a collection of writings by Leonardo da Vinci that he bought for $30.8 million in 1994.

Gates married Melinda French in 1994 after six years of dating, and they had three children together. They announced their divorce in 2021, which was finalized later that year. Gates has remained active in his personal life, including dating Paula Hurd, the widow of business leader Mark Hurd, since 2023.

Gates’ public image has evolved over time. Initially seen as a very smart but tough business leader, he later became known for his charitable work through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Despite some challenges to his reputation, he continues to be a well-known figure in technology and philanthropy.

Controversies

During his time as CEO of Microsoft, Bill Gates made decisions that led to legal challenges. In 1998, he gave a testimony in a court case regarding Microsoft’s business practices. Some people thought he answered questions in a way that was hard to understand.

Gates was also known for being very direct with his employees. He often asked tough questions during meetings and sometimes used strong language.

In 2011, Gates began meeting with financier Jeffrey Epstein, even after Epstein was convicted of serious crimes. Gates later said it was a mistake to spend time with Epstein, hoping he could help with charitable work, but nothing came from it. These meetings drew attention and criticism later on.

In 2025, Gates wrote a statement saying that climate change wasn’t the biggest threat to the world right now. Many climate scientists disagreed, saying climate change makes many other problems worse.

Awards and recognition

Bill Gates has received many awards and honors for his work. In 1999, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, and he was listed again in 2004, 2005, and 2006. In 2005, Time chose Gates, his wife Melinda, and U2's lead singer Bono as their Persons of the Year for their humanitarian work.

Gates has been given honorary doctorates from many universities around the world, including Harvard and Cambridge. He was also made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire and received France’s Legion of Honour. In 2016, Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. These are just a few examples of the many recognitions he has received for his contributions to technology and philanthropy.

Depiction in media

Bill Gates has been featured in many different kinds of media, from movies and TV shows to documentaries and radio programs. Some notable examples include:

• Documentary Films: These include titles like The Machine That Changed the World, Triumph of the Nerds, and Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates.
• Feature Films: Gates appeared in films such as Pirates of Silicon Valley, where he was portrayed by Anthony Michael Hall, and The Social Network, where he was played by Steve Sires.
• Television: Gates made guest appearances on shows like The Big Bang Theory and was parodied in an episode of The Simpsons. He also appeared in the series finale of Silicon Valley.
• Radio: In 2016, Gates was a guest on Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4, where he discussed his life and career.
• Talks and Interviews: Gates has given many TED talks and was interviewed in 2023 for the Amol Rajan Interviews series on BBC Two.

Books

Bill Gates has written a book called Source Code: My Beginnings, sharing his early experiences. Another book, The Bill Gates Problem, explores different views on his work and influence. Both books offer interesting insights into his life and career.