Founding Microsoft

Altair BASIC
Gates read about the Altair 8800, an early microcomputer, in a January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics. Although they had not yet written the code, he and Paul Allen contacted the Altair's manufacturer, Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), and claimed to have created a BASIC interpreter for the platform. In just a few weeks after MITS showed interest, Gates and Allen created a BASIC interpreter and an Altair emulator.. A deal to distribute the software as Altair BASIC resulted from the successful demonstration at MITS's offices in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Allen called their collaboration "Micro-Soft" (a play on the words "microcomputer" and "software") after Gates took a leave of absence from Harvard to work with him at MITS. In November 1976, the name "Microsoft" was formally registered.

Computer enthusiasts began using Microsoft's Altair BASIC, but a pre-market copy that was leaked was widely shared without permission. Gates responded by writing "An Open Letter to Hobbyists" in 1976, in which he criticized software piracy and argued in favor of developers' payment rights. Although this position caused division, it established a standard for Microsoft's handling of intellectual property.

After splitting from MITS in late 1976, Microsoft moved to Bellevue, Washington, in January 1979. As the business grew, Gates moved from software development to management positions, reviewing and frequently rewriting the company's early code.

Partnership with IBM

Leading computer hardware manufacturer IBM asked Microsoft for assistance in July 1980 in order to develop software for the IBM PC, an upcoming personal computer. IBM initially mentioned a BASIC interpreter, but they also needed an operating system. IBM came to Gates following a fruitless negotiation with Digital Research. Tim Paterson of Seattle Computer Products created the operating system 86-DOS, which Microsoft purchased and modified for the IBM PC. IBM purchased the resulting PC DOS for $50,000.

Anticipating that other manufacturers would produce PCs that were compatible with IBM, Gates purposefully kept the operating system's rights. Because of this choice, MS-DOS became widely used, solidifying Microsoft's position as a major force in the software sector. Microsoft had grown from a small company to a major software provider by the early 1980s.

Introduction of Windows

Microsoft Windows, a graphical operating system created to rival Apple's Macintosh, was first sold in stores in 1985. Known for its ease of use, the interface was designed to draw in more users.

Microsoft and IBM collaborated to create OS/2, a new operating system, in 1986, but their creative disagreements caused tension in the partnership. By releasing iterative versions of Windows that progressively moved away from DOS-based architecture and toward standalone systems, the company refocused on this platform. Two significant turning points were the release of Windows XP in 2001, soon after Gates resigned as CEO, and Windows 95, which introduced a user-friendly interface.

Management Style

During Microsoft's early years, Gates was actively involved in software development, contributing code to important projects like the TRS-80 Model 100 and the PC DOS driving game DONKEY.BAS. His attention gradually turned to strategy and management. Although Gates was commended for his technical expertise, he was criticized for using business practices that were considered anti-competitive, a position that was supported by multiple court decisions.

Gates declared in 2006 that he intended to leave his daily position at Microsoft in order to devote more time to philanthropy. His active tenure at Microsoft ended in 2008 when he completely turned over his duties to Craig Mundie, the chief research and strategy officer, and Ray Ozzie, the chief software architect.

Political Positions

Donation to Future Forward USA Action

The New York Times revealed in October 2024 that Bill Gates had given $50 million to Future Forward USA Action, a 501(c)(4) group that is assisting Kamala Harris in her bid for president in 2024. Gates called the election "different," but he did not specifically confirm the donation or support Harris.

Regulation of the Software Industry

Gates denied the necessity of software industry regulation in 1998 while testifying before the US Senate. According to reports, he became agitated during the Federal Trade Commission's 1990s investigation of Microsoft, calling proposed regulations "socialistic" and then "Communistic" in a meeting with Commissioner Dennis Yao.

Views on Donald Trump’s Facebook Ban

Gates voiced concerns about a permanent ban after Donald Trump was banned by Facebook and Twitter in February 2021. He called such actions "extreme" and cautioned that they might deepen political division, pointing out that Trump had garnered a sizable electoral base even though he lost the 2020 U.S. presidential election

COVID-19 Vaccine Patents

In April 2021, Gates came under fire for his opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine's intellectual property rights being waived. Opponents claimed that keeping patents prevented poorer countries from accessing vaccines. Additionally, Gates recommended Oxford University to form partnerships with a single industry organization rather than making its COVID-19 research publicly available. His position aligned with his views on software development and reflected his wider belief in the benefits of legal monopolies.

Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have drawn criticism from Gates for their potential hazards to smaller investors and lack of social benefits. He has declared that he has no cryptocurrency holdings and believes they provide no "valuable output."

Philanthropy

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The William H. Gates Foundation was founded in 1994 thanks to Gates' donation of Microsoft stock. In 2000, it combined with two other family foundations to become the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. With assets of over $34.6 billion by 2013, the foundation was the biggest charity in the world. The foundation funds programs for family planning, disease eradication, vaccine distribution, and other global health, education, and poverty alleviation initiatives.

The foundation has come under fire for allegedly funding businesses that exacerbate social injustices. Conflicts between its investment practices and philanthropic objectives were brought to light in a 2007 Los Angeles Times article. The foundation stuck to its plan of optimizing investment returns while leveraging its power as a shareholder to encourage moral behavior in spite of the review.

Notable Contributions

Gates has made large personal contributions to educational institutions, such as $6 million for Stanford University's Gates Computer Science Building and $20 million for a computer lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Additionally, he has backed initiatives to improve sanitation around the world, such as the "Reinvent the Toilet Challenge."

Through the Dementia Discovery Fund and other programs, Gates committed $100 million in 2017 to research on Alzheimer's disease. With a pledge to give the majority of their fortune to charitable causes, Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda, intend to leave their kids $10 million apiece.

Giving Pledge

In order to encourage billionaires to allocate the majority of their wealth to charitable causes, Gates, Melinda, and Warren Buffett established the Giving Pledge in December 2010. In 2022, Gates reaffirmed his pledge to donate "virtually all" of his fortune to charitable causes and to eventually drop off the list of the richest people in the world.

Additional Contributions

In addition to supporting disaster relief initiatives, such as allocating $600,000 to assist victims of the 2018 Kerala floods in India, the foundation has made contributions to OpenStax, a company that offers free digital textbooks. By providing free e-books to students and graduates worldwide, Gates has further supported educational initiatives.

Charity Sports Events

Through his charity tennis matches with Roger Federer, Gates helped raise millions of dollars for the healthcare and education of African children. Together, the events raised more than $4.5 million in 2017 and 2018.

Books

The Road Ahead (1995), Business @ the Speed of Thought (1999), How to Avoid a Climate Disaster (2021), and How to Prevent the Next Pandemic (2022) are just a few of the books that Gates has written. Source Code, his memoir, will be released in 2025.

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

On January 1, 1994, Gates wed Melinda French, and the two of them had three kids. After 27 years of marriage, the couple filed for divorce in August 2021. In 2023, Gates affirmed that he was seeing Paula Hurd. In March 2023, he became a grandfather.

Hobbies and Interests

Gates is an avid reader and enjoys bridge, golf, and tennis. His home library features a quote from The Great Gatsby. He owns the Codex Leicester, a collection of Leonardo da Vinci's writings, and is color-blind.

Public Image

Gates's image evolved from a "ruthless tycoon" to a philanthropic "techno-savior" after founding his charitable foundation. However, his public reputation faced challenges in 2021 due to his divorce and scrutiny of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Gates has been the target of conspiracy theories, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, involving unfounded claims about vaccines and microchips. He has dismissed these theories as baseless.

Religious Views

Gates has described himself as respectful of religion, noting its importance in moral systems. While he aligns with scientific explanations, he has expressed a belief in God, though he is unsure how that belief influences decisions in daily life.

Wealth

In 1987, Gates became the youngest-ever self-made billionaire at the age of 31, with a net worth of $1.25 billion, as featured in Forbes magazine's inaugural America's richest issue. He has consistently appeared on The World's Billionaires list and held the title of the world's richest person multiple times, including in 1995, 1996, 1998–2007, and 2009. His reign as the richest person ended in 2018 when Jeff Bezos surpassed him. As of June 2024, Gates's net worth is estimated at $154 billion, making him the sixth-richest person globally, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Notable Milestones

• 1999: Gates's wealth surpassed $100 billion, making him the first person to achieve this milestone.
• 2000s: His Microsoft holdings declined in value due to the dot-com bubble burst and his significant charitable donations.
• 2013: Regained the title of the richest person from Carlos Slim, only to lose it again temporarily in 2014.
• 2017: Jeff Bezos overtook Gates as the richest person in the world.
• 2019: Briefly reclaimed the top position after a 48% rise in Microsoft's stock value.

Gates's wealth doubled between 2009 and 2014, growing from $40 billion to $82 billion. Despite his immense fortune, Gates has publicly expressed discomfort with being the wealthiest person, citing unwanted attention.

Philanthropy and Taxation

Gates has donated billions of dollars to his charitable foundations, which has reduced his net worth over the years. He advocates for higher taxes on the wealthy and has stated that he has paid over $6 billion in taxes, saying, "I've paid more tax than any individual ever, and gladly so."

Investments and Business Ventures

Outside of Microsoft, Gates has diversified his investments:

• Corbis: Founded in 1989, a digital imaging company.
• Berkshire Hathaway: Joined the board in 2004, alongside long-time friend Warren Buffett.
• Microsoft Compensation (2006): Earned $966,667, including a salary of $616,667 and a bonus of $350,000.

Depiction in Media

Documentary Films About Bill Gates

The Machine That Changed the World (1990)
A documentary that explores the history of the computer industry, including Gates's role in the development of Microsoft.

Triumph of the Nerds (1996)
A documentary detailing the rise of the personal computer, with a focus on key figures such as Gates.

Nerds 2.0.1 (1998)
A follow-up documentary that continues the story of the tech industry's pioneers, including Bill Gates.

Waiting for "Superman" (2010)
A documentary on the American education system, in which Gates plays a role through his philanthropic efforts in education reform.

The Virtual Revolution (2010)
A series that discusses the internet and its impact on the world, featuring Bill Gates.

Inside Bill's Brain: Decoding Bill Gates (2019)
A Netflix documentary series that provides an in-depth look at Gates's life, his philanthropic work, and his impact on technology.

Feature Films

Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999)
A made-for-TV film that chronicles the rise of Apple and Microsoft. Gates is portrayed by actor Anthony Michael Hall.

Nothing So Strange (2002)
A mockumentary about a modern assassination attempt on Gates, who briefly appears in the film, played by Steve Sires.

The Social Network (2010)
A film about the creation of Facebook, in which Gates is portrayed by Steve Sires.

Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates: The Competition to Control the Personal Computer, 1974–1999 (2015)
A National Geographic Channel film exploring the rivalry between Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, part of the American Genius series.

Video and Film Clips

With Steve Jobs at D: All Things Digital (2007)
A recorded conversation between Bill Gates and Steve Jobs at the D5 Conference, discussing their rivalry and the tech industry.

Macintosh Dating Game (1983)
Gates participates in a parody of the TV show The Dating Game at a pre-launch event for Apple's Macintosh computer.

Gates at the Berkeley Macintosh Users Group (1991)
Gates speaks at a lively weekly meeting hosted by the University of California, Berkeley.

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together at D5 Conference (2007)
A filmed conversation between Gates and Jobs at the All Things Digital conference, available on YouTube.

TED Talks (Since 2009)
Gates has delivered numerous TED Talks on topics such as innovation, education, and global health issues.

Radio

• BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs (2016)
  Gates appeared on this iconic radio show, where he discussed his personal life, relationships, and habits. He shared his music preferences, a book recommendation (The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker), and his luxury item (a DVD collection of lectures from The Teaching Company).

Television

Frasier (200th Episode)
Gates made a brief appearance as himself in this popular sitcom.

The Big Bang Theory
Gates guest-starred as himself in an episode titled "The Gates Excitation."

Silicon Valley (2019)
Gates made a cameo appearance in the series finale of the popular TV show.

The Simpsons
Gates was parodied in the episode "Das Bus," a satirical portrayal of his public image.

Amol Rajan Interviews (2023)
Gates was interviewed in an episode of the BBC Two series Amol Rajan Interviews.

The Billionaires Who Made Our World (2023)
Gates was the subject of an episode of this UK Channel 4 series, exploring the lives of influential billionaires.

References 

• (No date) File:Bill Gates July 2014.jpg - Wikimedia Commons. Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bill_Gates_July_2014.jpg (Accessed: 04 January 2025).
• Bhaharul (no date) Millions of PNG images, backgrounds and vectors for free download, Pngtree. Available at: https://pngtree.com/ (Accessed: 04 January 2025).
• Bill Gates (no date a) Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Available at: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/leadership/bill-gates (Accessed: 04 January 2025).
• Bill Gates (no date b) Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/profile/bill-gates/ (Accessed: 04 January 2025).
• TOI Tech Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Jan 3, 2025 (no date) When Bill Gates predicted the ‘demise’ of Apple’s most-popular gadget - times of India, The Times of India. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/when-bill-gates-predicted-the-demise-of-apples-most-popular-gadget/articleshow/116907129.cms (Accessed: 04 January 2025).