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Bill Gates

American businessman and philanthropist

William Henry Gates III, born on October 28, 1955, co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen. Gates held various positions at Microsoft and is known for his philanthropic efforts through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He has been listed as one of the world's billionaires and is actively involved in climate change, global health, and education initiatives.

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Timeline

Birth of William Henry Gates III

William Henry Gates III, also known as Bill Gates, was born in Seattle, Washington to William H. Gates Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates. He was the only son in the family and had two sisters. His father was a prominent lawyer and his mother served on the board of directors of First Interstate BancSystem and United Way of America.

Birth of William (Bill) Henry Gates III

William (Bill) Henry Gates III was born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle to a middle-class family. His parents were a lawyer and a college teacher. He had a typical childhood attending public school up to at least the sixth grade.

Bill Gates Enrolls at Lakeside School

In 1967, Bill Gates enrolled at Lakeside School, where he had his first exposure to computers, marking the beginning of his journey in the field of technology.

Enrollment in Lakeside prep school

At the age of 13, Bill Gates enrolled in the private Lakeside prep school where he wrote his first software program. The school's Mothers' Club used proceeds from a rummage sale to buy computer time for the students, which sparked Gates' interest in programming.

Formation of Lakeside Programmers Club

Bill Gates, along with Paul Allen, Ric Weiland, and Kent Evans, formed the Lakeside Programmers Club to make money by finding bugs in software in exchange for extra computer time. This marked the beginning of Gates' entrepreneurial endeavors in the field of technology.

Open Letter to Hobbyists

In February 1976, Bill Gates wrote an open letter to hobbyists expressing concern about the widespread copying and distribution of Microsoft Altair BASIC without payment. He emphasized the importance of professional developers being compensated for their work.

Establishment of Microsoft in Albuquerque

Gates takes a leave of absence from Harvard and sets up Microsoft in Albuquerque, N.M., marking a significant milestone in the company's history.

Microsoft's Sales Exceed $1 Million

Microsoft’s year-end sales exceed $1 million, solidifying Gates' reputation for being tough but focused in the technology industry.

Relocation of Microsoft Headquarters

Microsoft headquarters are relocated to Bellevue, Wash., a suburb of Gates’ hometown, Seattle, marking a significant move for the company.

IBM Approaches Microsoft for Software

In July 1980, IBM approached Microsoft for software for its upcoming personal computer, the IBM PC, after Gates's mother mentioned Microsoft to IBM's CEO. This led to discussions about writing the BASIC interpreter and the need for an operating system, ultimately resulting in Microsoft providing an operating system for the PC.

Microsoft Company Restructuring

On June 25, 1981, Gates oversaw Microsoft's company restructuring, making himself the president and chairman of the board, with Paul Allen as vice president and vice chairman.

Launch of Microsoft Windows

Microsoft and Gates launched their first retail version of Microsoft Windows on November 20, 1985, as a response to competition from Apple's Macintosh GUI.

Becoming a Billionaire

In 1986, Bill Gates became a paper billionaire largely due to the success of Microsoft, making him one of the world's richest private individuals within a decade.

Bill Gates Listed as Billionaire in Forbes Magazine

In 1987, Bill Gates was listed as a billionaire in Forbes magazine's first ever America's richest issue and was the world's youngest self-made billionaire with a net worth of $1.25 billion.

Bill Gates Founding Corbis

In 1989, Bill Gates founded Corbis, a digital imaging company, as part of his investments outside Microsoft.

Bill Gates marries Melinda French

Bill Gates married Melinda French on the Hawaiian Island of Lānaʻi on January 1, 1994. They met in 1987 after Melinda began working at Microsoft.

Election to US National Academy of Engineering

In 1996, Bill Gates was elected a Member of the US National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to the founding and development of personal computing.

Appearance of Bill Gates at MacWorld Boston

Bill Gates appeared on-screen at the MacWorld Boston event in August 1997.

Bill Gates' Wealth Surpasses US$100 Billion

In 1999, Bill Gates briefly became the first person ever to achieve a wealth of over US$100 billion. However, the nominal value of his Microsoft holdings declined in the following years due to various factors.

Stepping down as CEO of Microsoft

In January 2000, William Henry Gates III stepped down as the CEO of Microsoft, succeeded by Steve Ballmer, but he remained chairman of the board of directors and became chief software architect.

Jefferson Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged

In 2002, Bill and Melinda Gates received the Jefferson Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged.

Bill Gates Becomes Board Member of Berkshire Hathaway

In 2004, Bill Gates became a board member of Berkshire Hathaway, the investment company headed by long-time friend Warren Buffett.

Time's Person of the Year

In 2005, Time collectively named Bill Gates, his wife Melinda, and U2's lead singer Bono as the Persons of the Year for their humanitarian efforts.

Bill Gates announces transition from Microsoft

On June 15, 2006, Bill Gates announced his decision to transition out of his role at Microsoft in order to focus more on philanthropy. This marked a significant shift in his career and the future direction of the company.

Receives Honorary Degree from Harvard

In 2007, Bill Gates receives an honorary degree from Harvard University.

Bill Gates' Reign at Microsoft Comes to an End

Bill Gates' reign at Microsoft comes to an end in 2008, marking the conclusion of an era dominated by his leadership.

Signing of the Giving Pledge

On December 9, 2010, Bill and Melinda Gates, along with Warren Buffett, signed a commitment called the 'Giving Pledge', vowing to donate at least half of their wealth to charity over time.

Gates's Relationship with Jeffrey Epstein

In 2011, Bill Gates's relationship with financier Jeffrey Epstein started, just a few years after Epstein was convicted for procuring a child for prostitution. Gates visited Epstein's house with his wife in the fall of 2013, despite her discomfort. Gates denied any business relationship or friendship with Epstein, but admitted to visiting him many times.

According to Forbes, Gates was ranked as the fourth most powerful person in the world in 2012.

Meeting with Nobel Committee Chair

In March 2013, Epstein and Gates met with Nobel Committee chair Thorbjørn Jagland to discuss the Nobel Prize. Representatives of the International Peace Institute, which has received millions in grants from the Gates Foundation, were also in attendance.

Gates Steps Down as Microsoft CEO

On February 5, 2014, Gates left the chair of Microsoft to John W. Thompson, and Windows 8.1 was the last version of the OS released before his departure.

Mission Innovation and Breakthrough Energy initiatives announced at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference

At the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, Bill Gates announced two initiatives - Mission Innovation, involving 20 national governments pledging to double their spending on research and development for carbon-free energy, and Breakthrough Energy, a group of investors funding high-risk startups in clean energy technologies.

Donation to Kerala, India

On August 25, 2018, Bill Gates distributed $600,000 through his foundation via UNICEF to help flood-affected victims in Kerala, India.

Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates

A Netflix documentary series that delves into the life of Bill Gates, from his childhood to his current work, including his time at Microsoft.

Bill Gates Leaves Board Positions at Berkshire Hathaway and Microsoft

On March 13, 2020, Microsoft announced Gates would be leaving his board positions at Berkshire Hathaway and Microsoft to focus on philanthropic endeavors such as climate change, global health and development, and education.

Fireside Chat at Singapore FinTech Festival

Gates delivered his thoughts in a fireside chat moderated by journalist Shereen Bhan at the Singapore FinTech Festival on December 8, 2020, discussing the topic of 'Building Infrastructure for Resilience: What the COVID-19 Response Can Teach Us About How to Scale Financial Inclusion'.

Donald Trump's Social Media Ban

After being banned from Facebook and Twitter, Donald Trump faced discussions about a potential permanent ban. Bill Gates expressed concerns about the polarization that could result from users with different political views dividing among various social networks.

Bill and Melinda Gates announce divorce

On May 3, 2021, the Gateses announced they had decided to divorce after 27 years of marriage and 34 years as a couple. They said they would keep working together on charitable efforts.

Bill and Melinda Gates divorce finalized

The divorce was finalized on August 2, 2021.

Commencement address at Northern Arizona University

On May 6, 2023, Bill Gates delivered a commencement address at Northern Arizona University, where he discussed insights on climate change and was honored with an honorary doctorate.

Establishment of The Gates Notes LLC

The Gates Notes LLC was established in 2024, serving as a platform for Bill Gates to share his thoughts and experiences on various topics such as education, climate and energy, pandemic prevention, and more.

End of the Timeline
Bill Gates

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