# Bill Gates

> American businessman, investor, and philanthropist (born 1955)

**Wikidata**: [Q5284](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5284)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bill-gates

## Summary
Bill Gates is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist, best known as the co-founder of Microsoft and the co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

## Biography
- Born: 1955-10-28 in Seattle, United States
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Lakeside School (1968-1973), Harvard College (1973-1975, dropped out)
- Known for: Co-founder of Microsoft and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Employer(s): Microsoft (founded 1975), Gates Foundation (founded 2000)
- Field(s): Technology, software development, philanthropy

## Contributions
Bill Gates co-developed Altair BASIC in 1975, an interpreter for the BASIC programming language that was one of the first products for the microcomputer market. He co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with Paul Allen, which became a leading software company. As CEO of Microsoft from 1975 to 2000, he led the development of key software products including the Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Office suite. Gates later transitioned to philanthropy, co-founding the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 with his wife, which focuses on global health, education, and poverty alleviation.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Bill Gates' primary occupation?
A: He is primarily known as a businessman and philanthropist, most notably as the co-founder of Microsoft and the co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

### Q: What is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation?
A: It is a private foundation founded by Bill and Melinda Gates in 2000, focused on global health, education, and poverty alleviation, with headquarters in Seattle.

### Q: What is Bill Gates' net worth?
A: His net worth has been reported at various points, including $79.2 billion in 2015, $77.7 billion in 2016, $89.8 billion in 2017, and $96.5 billion in 2019.

## Why They Matter
Bill Gates fundamentally transformed the personal computer industry through his role in creating Microsoft's software ecosystem. His leadership in developing the Windows operating system and Microsoft Office suite made personal computing accessible to millions. His philanthropic work through the Gates Foundation has had a significant impact on global health, particularly in reducing child mortality and improving access to education in developing countries.

## Notable For
- Co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with Paul Allen
- Received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 1992
- Was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2005
- Co-founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000
- Has been consistently ranked among the world's wealthiest individuals

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Bill Gates was born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, to parents Bill Gates Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates. He attended Lakeside School from 1968 to 1973 before enrolling at Harvard College in 1973. During his time at Harvard, Gates developed an interest in computer science and programming, which would shape his future career.

### Career at Microsoft
In 1975, Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen. The company's first product was Altair BASIC, which Gates co-developed in 1975. This was followed by the development of the Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Office suite, which became industry standards. Gates served as CEO of Microsoft from 1975 to 2000, leading the company's growth from a small startup to a global technology giant.

### Transition to Philanthropy
In 2000, Gates co-founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with his wife. The foundation focuses on global health, education, and poverty alleviation, with a particular emphasis on reducing child mortality and improving access to education in developing countries. The foundation has invested billions of dollars in various initiatives, including vaccination programs, agricultural development, and educational technology.

### Personal and Professional Details
Gates is left-handed and has a net worth that has fluctuated over the years, reaching as high as $96.5 billion in 2019. He is married to Melinda Gates, with whom he has three children. Gates has been involved in various other ventures, including investments in companies through his ownership of Berkshire Hathaway and his role as a board member for several organizations.

### Legacy
Bill Gates' impact on technology and society is profound. Through Microsoft, he helped make personal computing accessible to billions of people worldwide. Through the Gates Foundation, he has contributed significantly to global health and education initiatives. His work has influenced countless individuals and organizations, shaping the modern technology landscape and addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges.

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## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. Davos 2014 Participant List
4. [Source](https://twitter.com/BillGates/status/1389316412259270657/photo/1)
5. [Source](https://www.wired.com/2008/05/st-billgates/)
6. [#2 Bill Gates](https://www.forbes.com/profile/bill-gates/#634c34b0689f)
7. LinkedIn
8. [Bill Gates (American computer programmer, businessman, and philanthropist) -- Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.](http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/226865/Bill-Gates)
9. The Fine Art Archive
10. [What Makes for a Good Bridge Partner?. GatesNotes. 2010](http://www.gatesnotes.com/About-Bill-Gates/What-Makes-for-a-Good-Bridge-Partner)
11. [bridgebum.com, Bill Gates](http://www.bridgebum.com/bill_gates.php)
12. [Startup Hampton Creek brings tech bent to future of food. 2013](http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/talkingtech/2013/12/16/finding-the-next-egg-through-technology/3932117/)
13. [Bill Gates buys £110m stake in security group G4S. 2013](https://www.theguardian.com/business/marketforceslive/2013/jun/10/bill-gates-stake-security-g4s)
14. [Former JJB boss Chris Ronnie accused over £1m fraud. 2012](http://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/apr/04/chris-ronnie-jjb-serious-fraud-office)
15. [What is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation?. 2015](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/16/what-is-the-bill-and-melinda-gates-foundation)
16. [Queen grants Knighthood to Bill Gates. 2005](https://www.infoworld.com/article/2644044/queen-grants-knighthood-to-bill-gates.html)
17. [Knighthood for Microsoft's Gates. 2005](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3428673.stm)
18. [Bill Gates. National Science and Technology Medals Foundation](https://www.nationalmedals.org/laureates/bill-gates)
19. [Bill and Melinda Gates get Padma Bhushan. 2015](https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bill-gates-melinda-padma-bhushan-india-foundation-social-work-237379-2015-01-25)
20. [Par Atzinības krusta piešķiršanu un apbalvošanu ar goda zīmi. 2009](https://likumi.lv/ta/id/199478-par-atzinibas-krusta-pieskirsanu-un-apbalvosanu-ar-goda-zimi)
21. [2013 Lasker~Bloomberg Public Service Award: Advancing global health through enlightened philanthropy. Lasker Foundation](http://www.laskerfoundation.org/awards/show/advancing-global-health-through-enlightened-philanthropy/)
22. [President Obama Names Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom](https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/11/16/president-obama-names-recipients-presidential-medal-freedom)
23. [Gates’ Recognized for Pioneering Philanthropy Dedicated to Solving Problemsthat Impede Human Development. Fulbright Association. 2010](http://www.fulbright.org/about-us/news/2010_Fulbright_Prize)
24. [Source](https://www.bbc.com/news/11310420)
25. [Roll of Distinguished Fellows. British Computer Society](https://www.bcs.org/more/about-us/history-of-bcs/distinguished-fellowship-distfbcs/roll-of-distinguished-fellows/)
26. [United Nations Population Award Presented to Bill and Melinda Gates, Asian Parliamentarians. United Nations Population Fund. 2010](https://www.unfpa.org/news/united-nations-population-award-presented-bill-and-melinda-gates-asian-parliamentarians)
27. [Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, left, receives the "Aztec Eagle"](http://www.gettyimages.com/pictures/microsoft-chairman-bill-gates-left-receives-the-aztec-eagle-news-photo-94587215)
28. [Recibe Bill Gates Orden Mexicana del Aguila Azteca. 2007](https://www.jornada.com.mx/2007/03/21/index.php?section=politica&article=016n2pol)
29. [Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas](http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=154)
30. [Bill Gates "honrado" com distinção da Presidência portuguesa. 2006](https://www.publico.pt/2006/01/31/politica/noticia/bill-gates-honrado-com-distincao-da-presidencia-portuguesa-1246435)
31. [US CEO of the Microsoft Corporation Bill.... Getty Images](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/of-the-microsoft-corporation-bill-gates-is-awarded-with-the-news-photo/56710142)
32. [Bill and Melinda Gates to Receive Public Welfare Medal – Academy's Most Prestigious Award. National Academy of Sciences. 2013](http://www.nasonline.org/news-and-multimedia/news/jan-23-2013-pwm.html)
33. [DECRET nr.75 din 31 ianuarie 2007privind conferirea Ordinului naţional Steaua României în grad de Comandor](http://www.cdep.ro/pls/legis/legis_pck.htp_act_text?idt=78535)
34. [Bill Gates a ales Romania. 2007](http://www.ziare.com/bill-gates/windows/bill-gates-a-ales-romania-61202)
35. [Bill et Melinda Gates: une médaille pour le cœur. 2017](https://www.parismatch.com/Actu/International/Bill-et-Melinda-Gates-une-medaille-pour-le-coeur-1242938)
36. [Franklin Institute website](https://www.fi.edu/laureates/william-h-gates)
37. [名誉博士学位批准、授予名单（截至2008年12月）. Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China](http://www.moe.gov.cn/s78/A22/xwb_left/moe_829/tnull_44386.html)
38. [Bill Gates, Craig Venter och David King hedersdoktorer vid KTH. Royal Institute of Technology. 2002](https://www.forskning.se/2002/01/16/bill-gates-craig-venter-och-david-king-hedersdoktorer-vid-kth/)
39. [MICROSOFTS BILL GATES BLEV HEDERSDOKTOR VID KTH Hoppade av plugget - blev svensk doktor. 2002](https://www.svd.se/microsofts-bill-gates-blev-hedersdoktor-vid-kth-hoppade-av-plugget-blev-svensk-doktor)
40. [Karolinska gör Bill Gates till hedersdoktor. 2007](https://computersweden.idg.se/2.2683/1.104789/karolinska-gor-bill-gates-till-hedersdoktor)
41. [Bill Gates hedersdoktor på KI. 2008](https://www.dagensmedicin.se/artiklar/2008/01/24/bill-gates-hedersdoktor-pa-ki/)
42. Honoris Causa
43. Harvard Dropout Bill Gates Receives Honorary Degree
44. [Source](https://ig.ft.com/sites/person-of-the-year/)
45. [Source](https://www.spiegel.de/lebenundlernen/uni/bill-gates-in-harvard-lametta-fuer-den-verlorenen-sohn-a-487470.html)
46. [Source](https://rp-online.de/panorama/fernsehen/bill-gates-bekommt-bambi-auszeichnung_aid-14424731)
47. [Source](https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/tech/20250924082337-37-669668/bill-gates-dapat-bintang-jasa-prabowo-antarkan-langsung-ke-new-york)
48. International Standard Name Identifier
49. Virtual International Authority File
50. CiNii Research