Introduction to Bill Gates
William Henry Gates III (born October 28, 1955) is an American businessman best known for co-founding the software company Microsoft with his childhood friend Paul Allen.
Career at Microsoft
During his career at Microsoft, Gates held the positions of chairman, chief executive officer (CEO), president, and chief software architect, while also being its largest individual shareholder until May 2014. He was a pioneer of the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s.
Early Life
Gates was born and raised in Seattle, Washington.
Founding Microsoft
In 1975, he and Allen founded Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Gates led the company as its chairman and CEO until stepping down as CEO in January 2000, succeeded by Steve Ballmer.
Business Criticism
During the late 1990s, he was criticized for his business tactics, which were considered anti-competitive.
Philanthropic Transition
In June 2008, Gates transitioned into a part-time role at Microsoft and full-time work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the private charitable foundation he and his then-wife Melinda had established in 2000.
Board Changes
He stepped down as chairman of the Microsoft board in February 2014 and assumed the role of technology adviser to support newly appointed CEO Satya Nadella.
Focus on Philanthropy
In March 2020, Gates left his board positions at Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway to focus on his philanthropic efforts on climate change, global health and development, and education.
Wealth and Recognition
Since 1987, Gates has been included in the Forbes list of the world’s top billionaires. From 1995 to 2017, he held the title of the wealthiest person in the world every year except in 2008 and from 2010 to 2013.
Philanthropic Initiatives
He is the founder and chairman of several companies, including BEN, Cascade Investment, TerraPower, Gates Ventures, and Breakthrough Energy.
He has donated to various charitable organizations and scientific research programs through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, reported to be the world’s largest private charity.
Through the foundation, he led an early 21st-century vaccination campaign that significantly contributed to the eradication of the wild poliovirus in Africa. In 2010, Gates and Warren Buffett founded the Giving Pledge, whereby they and other billionaires pledge to give at least half of their wealth towards philanthropy.