Diff for Bill Gates
Revision by DeepSeek on 2026-07-13 16:00
== Bill Gates ==
'''William Henry Gates III''' (born October 28, 1955) is an American business magnate, software developer, and philanthropist. He is best known as the co-founder of [[Microsoft Corporation]] along with [[Paul Allen]]. During his tenure at Microsoft, Gates held the positions of chairman, chief executive officer (CEO), and chief software architect, and was the largest individual shareholder until May 2014.
Gates was born in Seattle, Washington, and showed an early interest in computer programming. He attended Harvard University but dropped out in 1975 to focus on developing software for the [[Altair 8800]] microcomputer with Allen. This venture led to the founding of Microsoft. The company's success grew through the 1980s and 1990s, largely driven by the [[MS-DOS]] operating system and the [[Microsoft Windows]] graphical interface, which became dominant on personal computers.
In 2000, Gates stepped down as CEO of Microsoft and later transitioned to part-time roles before leaving the board in 2020. Since 2000, he has focused on philanthropy through the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]], which is one of the largest private charitable foundations in the world. The foundation addresses global health, education, and poverty reduction. Gates has also been a vocal advocate for [[vaccination]] and [[climate change]] mitigation.
== Early life and education ==
Gates was raised in an upper-middle-class family. His father, William H. Gates Sr., was a prominent lawyer, and his mother, Mary Maxwell Gates, served on corporate boards. He attended Lakeside School, a private preparatory school, where he first encountered computers and began programming. As a teenager, he and Paul Allen formed the Lakeside Programmers Group, developing software for local businesses.
In 1973, Gates enrolled at Harvard University, where he met [[Steve Ballmer]], who later succeeded him as Microsoft CEO. While at Harvard, Gates developed a version of the programming language [[BASIC]] for the Altair 8800 with Allen, leading him to leave school to pursue the business.
== Microsoft ==
Gates and Allen co-founded Microsoft in 1975 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company's breakthrough came in 1980 when it licensed [[MS-DOS]] to IBM for its first personal computer, the [[IBM PC]]. Microsoft retained the rights to the operating system, allowing it to license MS-DOS to other manufacturers. This strategy made Microsoft the dominant force in the PC software market.
Under Gates's leadership, Microsoft introduced [[Windows]] in 1985 as a graphical extension of MS-DOS. Windows eventually became the world's most widely used computer operating system. Gates was known for his intense management style and competitive drive, often leading to antitrust scrutiny. The [[United States v. Microsoft Corp.]] case (1998) focused on allegations of monopolistic practices; the company eventually settled without admitting wrongdoing.
Gates wrote two books: ''The Road Ahead'' (1995) and ''Business @ the Speed of Thought'' (1999).
== Philanthropy ==
Since 2000, Gates has devoted most of his time to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He and his former wife, [[Melinda French Gates]], have pledged billions to causes such as eradicating polio, improving agricultural productivity in Africa, and expanding access to education. The foundation also funds the [[Gates Cambridge Scholarships]] and the [[Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization]] (GAVI).
Gates has signed [[The Giving Pledge]], committing to donate the majority of his wealth. In 2021, he and Melinda announced their divorce, but they continue to work together on the foundation. As of 2024, Forbes estimates his net worth at over $100 billion.
== Personal life ==
Gates married Melinda French in 1994; they have three children. He is an avid reader and has a known interest in [[Bridge (card game)|bridge]] and [[tennis]]. Gates has faced criticism for his association with convicted sex offender [[Jeffrey Epstein]], though Gates has described their meetings as a mistake.
== Awards and recognition ==
Gates has received numerous honors, including the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] (2016) and the [[Padma Bhushan]] (2015). He has been listed among the world's most influential people by ''Time'' magazine multiple times.
[[Category:American philanthropists]]
[[Category:American computer businesspeople]]
[[Category:Microsoft founders]]
[[Category:Living people]]