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Bill Gates is one of the most influential people in the world.
He is cofounder of one of the most recognized brands in the
computer industry with nearly every desk top computer using at
least one software program from Microsoft. According to the
Forbes magazine, Bill Gates is the richest man in the world
and has held the number one position for many years.
Gates was born and grew up in Seattle, Washington USA. His
father, William H. Gates II was a Seattle attorney and his
mother, Mary Maxwell Gates was a school teacher and
chairperson of the United Way charity. Gates and his two
sisters had a comfortable upbringing, with Gates being able to
attend the exclusive secondary "Lakeside School".
Bill Gates started studying at Harvard University in 1973
where he spent time with Paul Allen. Gates and Allen worked on
a version of the programming language BASIC, that was the
basis for the MITS Altair (the first microcomputer available).
He did not go on to graduate from Harvard University as he
left in his junior year to start what was to become the
largest computer software company in the world; Microsoft
Corporation.
Bill Gates and the Microsoft Corporation
"To enable people and businesses throughout the world to
realize their full potential." Microsoft Mission Statement
After dropping out of Harvard Bill Gates and his partner Paul
Allen set about revolutionizing the computer industry. Gates
believed there should be a computer on every office desk and
in every home.
In 1975 the company Micro-soft was formed, which was an
abbreviation of microcomputer software. It soon became simply
"Microsoft"® and went on to completely change the way people
use computers.
Microsoft helped to make the computer easier to use with its
developed and purchased software, and made it a commercial
success. The success of Microsoft began with the MS-DOS
computer operating system that Gates licensed to IBM. Gates
also set about protecting the royalties that he could acquire
from computer software by aggressively fighting against all
forms of software piracy, effectively creating the retail
software market that now exists today. This move was quite
controversial at the time as it was the freedom of sharing
that produced much innovation and advances in the newly
forming software industry. But it was this stand against
software piracy, that was to be central in the great
commercial success that Microsoft went on to achieve.
Bill Gates retired as Microsoft CEO in 2008.
Bill Gates Criticism
With his great success in the computer software industry also
came many criticisms. With his ambitious and aggressive
business philosophy, Gates or his Microsoft lawyers have been
in and out of courtrooms fighting legal battles almost since
Microsoft began.
The Microsoft monopoly sets about completely dominating every
market it enters through either acquisition, aggressive
business tactics or a combination of them. Many of the largest
technology companies have fought legally against the actions
of Microsoft, including Apple Computer, Netscape, Opera,
WordPerfect, and sun Microsystems.
Bill Gates Net Worth
With an estimated wealth of $53 billion in 2006, Bill Gates is
the richest man in the world and he should be starting to get
used to the number spot as he has been there from the mid-ninties
up until now. The famous investor Warren Buffett is gaining on
Gates though with an estimated $46 billion in 2006.
Microsoft hasn't just made Bill Gates very wealthy though.
According to the Forbes business magazine in 2004 Paul Allen,
Microsoft cofounder was the 5th richest man in the world with
an estimated $21 billion. While Bill Gates' long time friend
and Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer was the 19th richest man in
the world at $12.4 billion.
See more information the Bill Gates Net Worth page.
Bill Gates Philanthropy
Being the richest man in the world has also enabled Gates to
create one of the world's largest charitable foundations. The
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has an endowment of more
than $28 billion, with donations totaling more than $1 billion
every year. The foundation was formed in 2000 after merging
the "Gates Learning Foundation" and "William H. Gates
Foundation". Their aim is to "bring innovations in health and
learning to the global community".
Bill Gates continues to play a very active role in the
workings of the Microsoft Company, but has handed the position
of CEO over to Steve Ballmer. Gates now holds the positions of
"Chairman" and "Chief Software Architect". He has started that
he plans to take on fewer responsibilities at Microsoft and
will eventually devote all his time to the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation.
In 2006, the second richest man in the world, Warren Buffett
pledged to give much of his vast fortune to the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation.
Bill Gates Receives a KBE
In March 2005 William H. Gates received an "honorary"
knighthood from the queen of England. Gates was bestowed with
the KBE Order (Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of
the British Empire) for his services in reducing poverty and
improving health in the developing countries of the world.
After the privately held ceremony in Buckingham Palace with
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Gates commented on the
recognition..
"I am humbled and delighted. I am particularly pleased that
this honor helps recognize the real heroes our foundation
(Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) supports to improve health
in poor countries. Their incredible work is helping ensure
that one day all people, no matter where they are born, will
have the same opportunity for a healthy life, and I'm grateful
to share this honor with them."
The KBE Order of the British Empire is the second highest
Order given out, but it is only an honorary knighthood as only
citizens that are British or a part of the Commonwealth
receive the full Order. This means that Gates does not become
Sir Bill Gates.
Bill Gates lives near Lake Washington with his wife Melinda
French Gates and their three children. Interests of Gates
include reading, golf and playing bridge.
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