Story of Bill Gates | Microsoft

Bill Gates, born William Henry Gates III on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, is a renowned American business magnate, software developer, philanthropist, and author. His journey to becoming one of the wealthiest and most influential people in the world began in a modest setting.

Gates was born into a middle-class family. His father, William H. Gates Sr., was a successful attorney, and his mother, Mary Maxwell Gates, was a school teacher. From an early age, Gates showed a keen interest in computers and technology. In the late 1960s, at Lakeside School, a private preparatory school in Seattle, Gates became friends with Paul Allen, who shared his passion for computers.

During their time at Lakeside, Gates and Allen gained access to a computer terminal, a rarity at that time. They quickly became proficient in programming, exploiting the system to their advantage. In 1970, at the age of 15, Gates and Allen launched their first business venture, Traf-O-Data, which analyzed traffic data. Despite being a moderate success, this early experience laid the foundation for their future collaborations.

Gates attended Harvard University in 1973 but dropped out in 1975 to pursue his vision of putting a computer on every desk and in every home. Together with Allen, he founded Microsoft, a small software company that initially focused on programming languages for the Altair 8800, an early personal computer. In 1980, Microsoft signed a pivotal contract with IBM to provide an operating system for their first personal computer.

As the personal computer industry boomed, Microsoft grew exponentially. Gates was a visionary leader, driving the company's success through strategic decisions and innovations. In 1985, Microsoft released Windows 1.0, a graphical extension for MS-DOS, which became a key player in the operating system market.

The 1990s marked Microsoft's dominance in the tech industry, as Windows became the standard operating system for personal computers. However, this success also attracted antitrust scrutiny, leading to a legal battle that culminated in the United States v. Microsoft Corporation case. In 2000, a settlement was reached, and Microsoft agreed to make certain concessions.

During the late 1990s, Gates started to shift his focus towards philanthropy. In 2000, he stepped down as Microsoft's CEO to devote more time to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he co-founded with his then-wife Melinda French Gates. The foundation aimed to address global health, education, and poverty issues.

Over the years, Gates continued to be a driving force in technology and philanthropy. Despite stepping down from his day-to-day role at Microsoft, he remained involved as a strategic advisor. His influence extended beyond the tech world, as he used his wealth and influence to tackle global challenges through the foundation.

In 2021, Bill and Melinda Gates announced their divorce, marking the end of their 27-year marriage. However, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation continued its work under their shared commitment to philanthropy.

Bill Gates' journey from a curious teenager in Seattle to a tech pioneer and philanthropist is a testament to his unwavering vision, relentless work ethic, and commitment to making a positive impact on the world.