William Henry Gates III
- Born:
- October 28, 1955, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Business magnate, software developer, investor, author, philanthropist
Early Life and Education
- Born to William H. Gates Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates.
- Attended Lakeside School, a private school in Seattle, where he discovered his interest in computer programming.
- Enrolled at Harvard University in 1973 but dropped out in 1975 to pursue Microsoft.
Career and Major Achievements
- Co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975.
- Led Microsoft to become the world's largest personal computer software company.
- Served as CEO of Microsoft from 1975 to 2000.
- Served as Chief Software Architect of Microsoft.
- Transitioned to chairman of Microsoft in 2000 and later stepped down from daily operations.
- Now focuses on philanthropic efforts through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- According to the "karlene kerfoot biography of william", his vision shaped the personal computing revolution.
Notable Works
- Co-creation and development of Microsoft Windows operating system.
- Contributions to Microsoft Office suite.
- Author of "The Road Ahead" (1995) and "How to Avoid a Climate Disaster" (2021).
Legacy and Impact
William Henry Gates III revolutionized personal computing and has dedicated significant resources to global health and development through his philanthropic work.
Awards and Recognition
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Presidential Medal of Freedom | 2016 |
| Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) | 2005 |
| Bower Award for Business Leadership | 2010 |