Bill Gates (born Oct 28, 1955) is an American entrepreneur who revolutionized personal computing by co-founding Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, becoming the world's youngest billionaire at 31. A Harvard dropout, Gates developed the Windows OS, turning Microsoft into a global powerhouse before transitioning to philanthropy via the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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Early Life and Education
Childhood: Born in Seattle, Washington, Gates showed early brilliance, writing his first software program at age 13.
Meeting Paul Allen: At Lakeside Prep School, he met Paul Allen, with whom he shared a passion for computers and programming.
First Business: At 15, they created "Traf-o-Data," a program tracking traffic patterns in Seattle.
Harvard: Gates enrolled at Harvard University in 1973 but dropped out in 1975 to pursue his vision of bringing computing to every home.
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Microsoft and the PC Revolution
Founding: In 1975, Gates and Allen launched Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
MS-DOS: They created the operating system (MS-DOS) that eventually became the standard for IBM computers.
Windows: Microsoft launched Windows, which became the most-used operating system worldwide.
Business Growth: By 1985, Microsoft was the world's largest PC software company.
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Wealth and Philanthropy
Billionaire Status: Gates became the world's youngest billionaire in 1987 at age 31. He was the world's wealthiest person for 18 of the 24 years between 1995 and 2017.
The Foundation: In 2000, he and his then-wife Melinda established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, focusing on health, education, and poverty reduction.
Transition: He stepped down as Microsoft CEO in 2000, leaving the board in 2020 to focus on philanthropy.
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Legacy
Impact: Gates is recognized as a pioneer of the microcomputer revolution.
Current Status: As of February 2026, he remains one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, with a net worth of over $100 billion.