Bill Gates
Microsoft co-founder; chair, Gates Foundation
Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen and led it through the expansion of personal computing.
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At a glance
Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen and led it through the expansion of personal computing. After leaving its day-to-day management, he focused on philanthropy and technology investment. His work includes the Gates Foundation, Breakthrough Energy and TerraPower.
- Current role
- Microsoft co-founder; chair, Gates Foundation
- Born
- 28 October 1955
- Previously
- Microsoft CEO, 1975–2000
- Coverage
- Software; public health; energy; AI
Sources checked . Selected career milestones and biographical references.
Career, in context.
Selected milestones, newest first. Explore earlier career below.
Accelerates the foundation’s spend-down
Gates announces a plan to deploy the foundation’s resources over 20 years and close in 2045.
Source: Gates Foundation
Show earlier careerHide earlier career · 6 milestones
More than 10 years ago.
Launches Breakthrough Energy
He brings together investors to support technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.
Source: WikipediaLeaves Microsoft’s daily management
Gates shifts his full-time work toward philanthropy while continuing other technology interests.
Source: WikipediaEstablishes the Gates Foundation
Earlier charitable organisations merge into the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, later renamed.
Source: Gates NotesHands Microsoft’s CEO role to Steve Ballmer
He continues as chairman and chief software architect after leaving the CEO position.
Source: WikipediaCo-founds Microsoft
Gates and Paul Allen build software for the emerging personal-computer market.
Source: Gates Notes
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