Autobiography of Bill Gates
Early Life
I was born William Henry Gates III on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington. I have two sisters: Kristi, my older sister, and Libby, my younger sister. We grew up in a family that valued hard work, charity, and community service. My parents, Mary Maxwell Gates and William H. Gates Sr., made sure we knew the importance of these values.
Education
I was enrolled in the private preparatory Lakeside School, where my fascination for computers began. Lakeside got a teletype terminal, which I and my friend Paul Allen instantly took a liking to. It was this Teletype Model 33 ASR terminal that connected us to the world of programming. While at Lakeside, I also developed an early interest in business, jointly running the Lakeside Programmers Club’s business aspect with Allen, providing computer time to companies.
In 1973, I enrolled at Harvard College, intending to study law like my father. But the pull of computers was too strong. I spent much of my time in Harvard’s computer lab, often all night long. During my time at Harvard, I met Steve Ballmer, who would later become CEO of Microsoft.
Microsoft
In the winter of 1974, Paul Allen showed me an issue of Popular Electronics featuring the Altair 8800. We both saw it as an opportunity. We decided to develop a BASIC interpreter for the Altair. I contacted Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), the Altair’s manufacturer, telling them we were working on a BASIC interpreter for their machine. They were interested, and so, despite not having an Altair to work with or even a written program, Allen and I set to work.
By February 1975, we had a working interpreter. Allen flew to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to demonstrate our program to MITS. The demo was a success, and MITS agreed to distribute our BASIC. This was the start of Microsoft (originally “Micro-Soft”).
In 1976, Microsoft became a registered trademark. In 1980, after signing a pivotal contract with IBM, we launched our operating system MS-DOS, and Microsoft truly began to dominate the PC market.
Windows
In 1985, we released Windows, a graphical operating system shell for MS-DOS, in response to Apple’s graphical user interface. It was a big gamble, but it paid off handsomely. Windows became very successful, and new versions of Windows were released over the subsequent years, each improving on the last and helping solidify our presence in the market.
Philanthropy
I’ve always believed in giving back to the community, a value ingrained in me by my parents. In 1994, Melinda and I established the William H. Gates Foundation, which focused on global health. In 2000, we combined several of our charitable pursuits into the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The foundation works to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty globally. In the U.S., it focuses on expanding educational opportunities and access to information technology. We’ve committed billions to these causes, hoping to make a significant impact in improving people’s lives.
Stepping Back from Microsoft
In 2000, I stepped down as CEO of Microsoft, handing the reins to Steve Ballmer. I remained as chairman and chief software architect, but my focus began to shift more towards philanthropy.
In 2008, I transitioned to a part-time role at Microsoft to spend more time on the foundation. This was a significant moment in my life, as I passed on the day-to-day operations of the company I had built from the ground up.
Personal Life
In 1987, I married Melinda French, a Microsoft employee. We have three children together: Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe. Melinda has been my partner in all aspects of life, including our philanthropic endeavors. Our marriage was about partnership, love, and working together to improve the world.
In May 2021, we announced that we decided to end our marriage but would continue to work together at our foundation. Despite our separation, we remain committed to our mission to empower people to lead healthy, productive lives.
Reflections
Looking back on my life, I’m immensely proud of what I’ve achieved and the difference Microsoft has made in the world. But I’m equally proud, if not more so, of the work we’ve done through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The journey so far has been incredible, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds. I strongly believe that every person deserves the chance to live a healthy, productive life. And I remain committed to doing whatever I can to make that a reality.
Show more +
