Bill Gates, born in 1955, is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist best known as the co-founder of Microsoft, which became a major player in the software industry with products like MS-DOS and Windows. Gates' early passion for programming led him to drop out of Harvard to focus on developing software, ultimately creating a vision for Microsoft that emphasized long-term thinking and teamwork. His success is attributed to innovative management styles, a commitment to research and development, and a belief in empowering others through education and philanthropy.