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Birth
William Henry Gates III was born on October 28, 1955, to William Henry Gates II and Mary Gates. He would then be raised in Seattle and exposed to the world of computers and technology. Reference
“Bill Gates.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 8 Apr. 2020, www.biography.com/business-figure/bill-gates. -
Lakeside School
Gates was enrolled in Lakeside School in Seattle. This exclusive private school was for grades 5-12 and is where gates would meet and befriend Paul Allen. The two would share a great interest in computers, thus starting his adventure into technology and programming. Reference
“Timeline: Bill Gates.” NPR, NPR, legacy.npr.org/news/graphics/2008/june/bill_gates/gates_timeline_04.html. -
College Life
With the initial intentions of pre-law major, Gates is accepted and enrolled at Harvard University. He quickly changes his mind towards a degree in the software development field and focuses on mathematics and computer science classes. Reference
“Timeline: Bill Gates.” NPR, NPR, legacy.npr.org/news/graphics/2008/june/bill_gates/gates_timeline_04.html. -
Altair Software
While still enrolled at Harvard, Gates makes an offer to MITS in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Gates offers to develop software for the MITS Altair. After Altair accepts his offer for $3000 plus royalties, Gates leaves school in order to pursue his dream in software development. Reference
“Timeline: Bill Gates.” NPR, NPR, legacy.npr.org/news/graphics/2008/june/bill_gates/gates_timeline_04.html. -
Microsoft
After working on software for MITS, Gates and Allen were very familiar with the early programming language for the Altair: BASIC. They refined this language into what would eventually be turned into an operating system. They would create a trademarked company off of this idea called Microsoft. Reference
Hall, Mark, and Gregg Pascal Zachary. “Microsoft Corporation.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 10 Jan. 2020, www.britannica.com/topic/Microsoft-Corporation. -
Microsoft is Growing
Microsoft exceeds $1 million in sales. This marks a major achievement for the company because it shows that there is growth in the software field. Reference
“Timeline: Bill Gates.” NPR, NPR, legacy.npr.org/news/graphics/2008/june/bill_gates/gates_timeline_04.html. -
Work with IBM
A leading tech company International Business Machines (IBM) would notice the work done by Microsoft. This landed Gates and Allen with a major contract to develop software for an operating system on the first personal computer, the IBM PC. Reference
Hall, Mark, and Gregg Pascal Zachary. “Microsoft Corporation.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 10 Jan. 2020, www.britannica.com/topic/Microsoft-Corporation. -
MS-DOS
As Microsoft grows in size, the company buys and incorporates the DOS Operating System. Formerly owned by Seattle Computer Products, this operating system would be transformed into MS-DOS. This operating system would later be licensed to IBM to use in the new personal computer. Reference
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Bill Gates.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 22 Apr. 2020, www.britannica.com/biography/Bill-Gates. -
Allen Leaves Microsoft
After being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, Paul Allen decided to leave Microsoft. Although he was still on the board of directors for the company, he no longer was the chief technologist. This left Gates as the only remaining founder of the company. Reference
Nolen, Jeannette L. “Paul Allen.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 17 Jan. 2020, www.britannica.com/biography/Paul-Allen. -
Earning a Fortune
After Microsoft went public, Gates became the world's youngest billionaire at the age of 31. Thanks to the success of Microsoft, Gates entered the billionaire's club. He would then further advertise for the company as well as meet his future wife Melinda French. Reference
“Timeline: Bill Gates.” NPR, NPR, legacy.npr.org/news/graphics/2008/june/bill_gates/gates_timeline_04.html. -
Possible Collusion with IBM
The Federal Trade Commission decided to launch an investigation into a case involving possible collusion between IBM and Microsoft. Allegedly, the two companies came together to create an impromptu monopoly over the market. This was due to the unrivaled success of the IBM OS/2 in the high-end market and Microsoft's Windows for the low-end. Reference
“Timeline: Bill Gates.” NPR, NPR, legacy.npr.org/news/graphics/2008/june/bill_gates/gates_timeline_04.html. -
William H. Gates Foundation
Alongside his wife Melinda, Gates launched a foundation to help fund global health programs in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. They would later go on to help fund libraries and give minority students grants for university. References
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Bill Gates.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 22 Apr. 2020, www.britannica.com/biography/Bill-Gates. -
Richest Man in the World
With a wealth totalling around $12.9 billion, Bill Gates becomes the richest man in the world. Only aged 39, Gates celebrates the occasion by releasing the new Internet Explorer to the public. This was a part of the new release for Windows 95. Reference
“Timeline: Bill Gates.” NPR, NPR, legacy.npr.org/news/graphics/2008/june/bill_gates/gates_timeline_04.html. -
Stepping Down
Gates decides to step down as CEO of Microsoft leaving his former Harvard dormmate Steve Ballmer as the CEO. Meanwhile, Federal Courts decide that Microsoft is misusing its monopoly power and must be broken up, in order to not consume the entire market. Reference
“Timeline: Bill Gates.” NPR, NPR, legacy.npr.org/news/graphics/2008/june/bill_gates/gates_timeline_04.html. -
Overturned Ruling
Federal District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson overturns his previous decision and states that Microsoft does not need to be divided into two companies. This means that Microsoft can continue to make advancements in the software field as they have been. Reference
“Timeline: Bill Gates.” NPR, NPR, legacy.npr.org/news/graphics/2008/june/bill_gates/gates_timeline_04.html. -
Graduation
After taking several breaks and eventually leaving Harvard to pursue Microsoft with Allen, Gates receives an honorary degree from the university. In his commencement speech, he tells students to change society for the better, similar to what he was doing with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Reference
“Timeline: Bill Gates.” NPR, NPR, legacy.npr.org/news/graphics/2008/june/bill_gates/gates_timeline_04.html.
