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Born
Bill Gates was born to parents William and Mary Maxwell Gates in Seattle Washington. -
Started Lakeside School
Private prep school that introduced and provided the means for Gates to learn and become interested about computers. -
Started Harvard
Gates was a pre-law major while he enrolled in math and computer science courses. -
Graduated from Lakeside School
Gates had nearly maxed his SAT score and intended to pursue pre-law. -
Left Harvard
Despite good grades, Gates left to found Microsoft. -
Founded Micro-soft
Gates and his friend, Paul Allen, developed and sold BASIC language software for the MITS Altair which led to the sale of their product to Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems. This sale led to the beginning of a partnership with MITS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqAg0GJLPGk -
"Micro-Soft" name changed to "Microsoft"
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Started Partnership with IBM
Microsoft developed the PC-DOS operating system for a $50,000 sale price to IBM. They additionally created the MS-DOS which allowed Microsoft to enter and remain in the marketplace for operating systems. -
Released first version of Windows
Famously known for being accused of stealing from Steve Jobs. This resulted in the famous quote: "The main "copying" that went on relative to Steve and me is that we both benefited from the work that Xerox Parc did in creating graphical interface — it wasn't just them, but they did the best work. Steve hired Bob Belville, I hired Charles Simonyi. We didn't violate any IP rights Xerox had, but their work showed the way that led to the Mac and Windows." -
United States v. Microsoft Corporation
Gates had to answer to antitrust allegations that were directed towards Microsoft Corporations. The judge for the case ruled that Microsoft had indeed blocked competition and behaved like a monopoly, which are both conditions stated in the Sherman Antitrust Act. -
Founded Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Charitable organization that has donated an estimated $28 billion. In a Reddit 'Ask Me Anything' (AMA) said Gates hopes to use the foundation to eradicate diseases and improve the health of poorer countries. -
Stepped down as Microsoft CEO
Gates decided his college friend, Stevel Balmer, would be the ideal replacement to lead Microsoft. He would remain a chairman of Microsoft for 14 years. -
Founded the Giving Pledge
A campaign that contains billionaires that pledge to donate at least half of their wealth. -
Stepped down as Microsoft Chairman
Began his role as a 'Technology Advisor' which allowed him to spend more time focusing on his philanthropy. -
Donated $1.7B to K-12 Public Education
A bulk of the donation is directed to charter schools with the intention to improve curriculums and build networks of schools that work together to solve problems that can encourage growth and improvement for the education system.