Bill Gates

Age and Place of Birth

William Henry Gates III, popularly known as Bill Gates, was born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, U.S.. As of June 10, 2025, he is 69 years old.

Family Background and Early Life

Bill was raised in a well-to-do Seattle family. His father, William H. Gates Sr., was a distinguished lawyer and bar association president; his mother, Mary Maxwell Gates, held leadership roles in banking and nonprofit organizations. Bill is the middle child, with an older sister, Kristi, and a younger sister, Libby. 

From a young age, Gates showed extraordinary aptitude in math and reading—by age eight he was engrossed in encyclopedias. His parents, recognizing his talents, enrolled him at Lakeside School, where he began programming at around thirteen. 

Education and the Beginnings of Microsoft

In 1973, Bill enrolled at Harvard University, diving into advanced mathematics and computer science. Two years later, inspired by emerging microcomputers, he dropped out to launch Microsoft with childhood friend Paul Allen. Their first product, Altair BASIC, was released in 1975 and rapidly established their company’s reputation.

Career Achievements with Microsoft

As CEO, President, and Chairman, Gates guided Microsoft from its founding until 2000, overseeing transformative products such as Windows (1985) and MS-DOS. Microsoft’s 1986 IPO made Gates a billionaire at age 31. He remained CEO until 2000, then transitioned roles—chief software architect (until 2008), board chairman (until 2014), and technology advisor (until 2020). 

Philanthropy and the Gates Foundation

In 2000, Gates and Melinda French Gates combined several family nonprofits to form the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, now simply the Gates Foundation. Based in Seattle, with an endowment of $77.2 billion (2024), it is one of the world’s largest private philanthropic organizations, focusing on healthcare, education, and poverty reduction globally. Bill serves as chairman. 

Since its inception, the foundation has committed billions toward causes like malaria, tuberculosis, polio, and, more recently, COVID‑19 response initiatives.

Business Ventures & Innovation Beyond Microsoft

Bill expanded his focus beyond Microsoft:

• Cascade Investment LLC, his private holding company.

• Gates Ventures (formerly bgC3), a think tank investing in climate, health, and energy technologies.

• Founding ventures like TerraPower (advanced nuclear), Breakthrough Energy, and participation in Traf‑O‑Data, an early traffic‑analysis company. 

Memoir and Recognition

In February 2025, Gates published Source Code: My Beginnings, the first of a planned trilogy. This memoir revisits his childhood, friendships (including Paul Allen), and the early days of Microsoft and Traf-O-Data. He reflects on his neurodivergence and the influence of key figures like his late friend Kent Evans.

He has received honors such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016), Padma Bhushan (2015), and Honorary KBE (2005), alongside numerous honorary doctorates.

Personal Traits and Legacy

Known early on as a fiercely competitive and intellectually intense child, Gates was dubbed “Trey” (III) by family tradition. He converted his deep concentration into programming skill, building a business empire. As a philanthropist, he's pledged to donate most of his wealth (via the Giving Pledge). His influence spans technology, global health, climate, and policy.