Bill Gates: From the Microsoft Foundation to Global Philanthropy

Bill Gates, born William Henry Gates III on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, is one of the most influential figures in the world of technology and philanthropy. Co-founder of Microsoft, he revolutionized personal computing, becoming one of the richest men on the planet. His story is a blend of innovation, entrepreneurial success, and humanitarian commitment. Today, in 2025, Gates focuses primarily on global challenges such as health, climate change, and poverty, through his foundation and various investments.

Early Life and Education

Gates grew up in a wealthy family: his father, William H. Gates Sr., was a successful lawyer, while his mother, Mary Maxwell Gates, was a businesswoman and a member of various boards of directors, including that of the United Way of America. He has two sisters, an older (Kristi) and a younger (Libby). From a young age, Gates displayed exceptional intelligence and a passion for competition. At 13, he enrolled at the prestigious Lakeside School, where he met Paul Allen, his future business partner. It was here that Gates had his first contact with computers, programming on a Teletype terminal and a GE computer. Together with Allen and other friends, he formed the Lakeside Programmers Club and developed his first commercial software, Traf-O-Data, to analyze traffic data.

In 1973, Gates enrolled at Harvard University, where he studied mathematics and computer science, meeting Steve Ballmer, the future CEO of Microsoft. However, in 1975, he dropped out to devote himself fully to programming, convinced that the era of personal computers was upon us.

Foundation and Rise of Microsoft

In 1975, inspired by the Popular Electronics article about the Altair 8800, Gates and Allen contacted MITS to offer a BASIC interpreter. Although they didn't yet have the software ready, they quickly developed it, giving birth to Microsoft (from "microcomputer" and "software"). The company moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and in 1976 Gates wrote an open letter against software piracy.

The real breakthrough came in 1980, when IBM asked Microsoft for an operating system for its PC. Gates purchased the rights to 86-DOS from Seattle Computer Products, adapting it into MS-DOS, which became the standard for IBM-compatible computers. In 1985, he launched Windows, a graphical user interface that competed with Apple's Macintosh. Microsoft went public in 1986, making Gates a billionaire at age 31. Under his leadership, the company dominated the market with products such as Windows 95 and Office, reaching a value of billions of dollars. Gates served as CEO until 2000, also facing accusations of anti-competitive practices in the 1990s.

Peak and Exit from Microsoft

In the 1990s and 2000s, Microsoft reached its peak, with Gates becoming the world's richest man for several years, according to Forbes. In 1995, his net worth surpassed $12 billion. However, Gates began to distance himself: in 2000, he handed over the CEO role to Steve Ballmer, becoming chief software architect. In 2008, he further reduced his involvement to focus on philanthropy, and in 2014, he stepped down as chairman of the board, remaining a technology advisor to Satya Nadella. In 2020, he resigned from the board, partly motivated by an internal investigation into a past relationship with an employee.

Philanthropy: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

In 2000, Gates and his wife, Melinda, founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world's largest philanthropic organizations, with an endowment exceeding $34 billion. The foundation focuses on global health (vaccines, AIDS, malaria, polio), education, poverty, and agricultural development. Gates, inspired by Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller, donated over $100 billion in its first 25 years. Together with Warren Buffett, he launched The Giving Pledge in 2010, encouraging billionaires to donate the majority of their wealth.

After their divorce in 2021, the foundation was renamed the Gates Foundation, with Gates as sole chairman. In May 2025, he announced he would donate 99% of his remaining wealth (approximately $107 billion) over the next 20 years, doubling his donations to over $200 billion, with a planned closing in 2045. His goals include eradicating infectious diseases, reducing infant and maternal mortality, and fighting poverty through agricultural and digital innovations.

Personal Life: Marriage, Divorce, and Family

Gates met Melinda French in 1987 at a Microsoft event; they married in 1994 in Hawaii and had three children: Jennifer (1996), Rory (1999), and Phoebe (2002). The family lived in a luxurious mansion in Medina, Washington, known for its advanced technology. In 2021, after 27 years of marriage, they divorced, citing irreconcilable differences, amid speculation about Gates' ties to Jeffrey Epstein (which Gates has called a mistake). Melinda received a substantial severance package, and the two continued to collaborate on the foundation until 2021.

Since 2023, Gates has been in a relationship with Paula Hurd, the widow of a former Oracle CEO. He is an avid reader, plays bridge and tennis, and owns artwork such as Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Leicester. In 2022, he contracted COVID-19 with mild symptoms after being vaccinated. In his 2025 memoir, Source Code: My Beginnings, Gates reflects on his childhood and traits that may indicate autism.

Current Situations in 2025

As of December 2025, Gates has an estimated net worth between $107 and $115 billion, making him the 13th richest person in the world. He focuses on philanthropy and investments through Cascade Investment, Breakthrough Energy, and TerraPower (for clean nuclear energy). On his blog, Gates Notes, he discusses geothermal energy, nuclear fusion, polio eradication, reducing childhood diarrhea, and books on innovation and abundance. He supports climate solutions, such as carbon capture and alternative foods, and criticizes cryptocurrencies. He donated $50 million to Kamala Harris's 2024 campaign and continues to push for higher taxes on the wealthy. His outlook remains optimistic: he believes that innovation can solve major global challenges, as demonstrated by his commitment to donate nearly all of his wealth by 2045.