Bill Gates

Bill Gates was born on October 28, 1955. He is raised in Seattle.

Oct 28, 1955

Gates is enrolled in the Lakeside School, an exclusive private school in Seattle, where he befriends Paul Allen.

Nov 13, 1967

Gates and Allen register the trademark "Microsoft"

Nov 13, 1976

Microsoft's year-end sales exceed $1 million.

Nov 13, 1978

Microsoft's year-end sales exceed $1 million.

At age 31, Gates becomes the youngest billionaire ever.

Nov 13, 1987

Gates weds French; the couple goes on to have three children.

Nov 13, 1994

at age 39 and with a fortune of &12.9 billion, Gates becomes the world's richest man.

Jul 13, 1995

Gates publishes another best-selling book, Business @ the Speed of Thought, about the interconnectedness of business and technology.

Nov 13, 1999

Gates steps down as CEO of Microsoft.

Mar 14, 2000

Queen Elizabeth II an honorary knighthood on Gates for his contributions to the United Kingdom. "Time" names him a "person of the Year,"

Jan 1, 2005

Gates "graduates " from Harvard; the university awards him with honorary degree.

Aug 3, 2007

Though his fortune continues to grow, Gates loses his spot as the richest man on the planet.

Nov 14, 2008