2. Childhood
Born October 28, 1955 to William H. Gates II & Mary
Gates.
Grew up in Seattle, WA.
2 sisters- Kristi (older) and Libby (younger).
Father was a Seattle attorney
Mother was a schoolteacher, University of Washington
regent, & chairman of United Way International.
His real name is William H. Gates III.
3. School Days
Enrolled into Lakeside Prep at age 13.
Wrote his first computer program in 8th grade.
Graduated from Lakeside and registered at
Harvard College in the fall of 1973.
SAT score: 1590 out of 1600.
4. College
Lived down the hall from Steve
Ballmer his freshman year at
Harvard. Steve is now Microsoft’s
chief executive officer.
His sophomore year, he developed
a solution to one of a series of
unsolved problems that was later
published in a paper with Harvard
scientists.
Solution held record as the fastest
version in over thirty years.
5. Moving On
Gates, and long-time friend Paul Allen, began
Microsoft in 1975.
Left Harvard his junior year to devote his life to
Microsoft.
Had a passion for computers and creating software.
Believed that the computer would soon be a valuable
tool in every home.
Created software for personal computers.
6. Now
Chairman of Microsoft Corp.
Has brought the company to continually advance and
improve software technology.
He has made it easier, more cost-effective and more
enjoyable to use computers.
Microsoft is now the worldwide leader in software,
services, and solutions that help people and businesses
reach full potential.
7. Other…
* Currently employs over 78,000 people in 105 countries
and regions.
* Had revenues of $52.12 billion for the year ending in
June 2007.
* Gates has been responsible for the company’s
strategies until 2006.
* He has vigorously broadened the company’s range of
products.
8. Other…
Gates and his wife, Melinda, created a foundation
called the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation.
It has over $28.8 billion to support charitable
initiatives in the areas of global health and education.
He has written two books, The Road Ahead (1995) and
Business @ the Speed of Thought (1999).
9. Other…
Bill Gates has donated more than $26 billion dollars to
philanthropic causes through the Bill Melinda Gates
Foundation. That includes $10 billion for vaccine
research over the next ten years.
Bill Gates’ first computer program sale was at 17 for
$4,200. He sold a time-tabling system to his high
school.
10. Bill Gates ($53 billion) is now the 2nd
richest man in the world, behind
Carlos Slim Helu ($53.5 billion).