Bill Gates was born in 1955 in Seattle, Washington. He showed an early aptitude for computers, writing his first program in 8th grade. Gates enrolled at Harvard in 1973, where he met Steve Ballmer. He dropped out of Harvard in 1975 to co-found Microsoft with his friend Paul Allen. Gates had a vision that computers would become ubiquitous and important tools. Under his leadership, Microsoft became the worldwide leader in software and helped make computers more accessible to the general public. Gates stepped down as CEO in 2006 but remains chairman of Microsoft. He and his wife Melinda have also established the large Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support global health and education initiatives.

1. Founder of Microsoft

2.  Born October 28, 1955 to William H. Gates II & Mary
Gates
 Grew up in Seattle, WA.
 2 sisters- Kristi (older) and Libby (younger).
 Father was a Seattle attorney
 Mother was a schoolteacher, University of
Washington regent, & chairman of United Way
International.

3.  Enrolled into Lakeside Prep at age 13.
 Wrote his first computer program in 8th grade.
 Graduated from Lakeside and registered at
Harvard College in the fall of 1973.
 SAT score: 1590 out of 1600.

4.  Lived down the hall from Steve
Ballmer his freshman year at
Harvard. Steve is now Microsoft’s
chief executive officer.
 His sophomore year, he
developed a solution to one of a
series of unsolved problems that
was later published in a paper
with Harvard scientists.
 Solution held record as the fastest

5.  Gates, and long-time friend Paul Allen, began Microsoft
in 1975.
 Left Harvard his junior year to devote his life to
Microsoft.
 Had a passion for computers and creating software.
 Believed that the computer would soon be a valuable
tool in every home
 Created software for personal computers.

6.  Chairman of Microsoft Corp.
 Has brought the company to continually advance and
improve software technology.
 He has made it easier, more cost-effective and more
enjoyable to use computers.
 Microsoft is now the worldwide leader in software,
services, and solutions that help people and businesses
reach full potential.

7. * Currently employs over 78,000 people in 105 countries
and regions.
* Had revenues of $52.12 billion for the year ending in June
2007.
* Gates has been responsible for the company’s strategies
until 2006.
* He has vigorously broadened the company’s range of
products.

8.  Gates and his wife, Melinda, created a foundation called
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
 It has over $28.8 billion to support charitable initiatives in
the areas of global health and education.
 He has written two books, The Road Ahead (1995) and
Business @ the Speed of Thought (1999).