Bill Gates' Milestones

Bill Gates is an American business magnate and philanthropist, co-founder of Microsoft, and founder of the Gates Foundation, dedicated to global health, education, and poverty alleviation.
1955

Birth

William Henry Gates III was born in Seattle, Washington, to William H. Gates Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates.

Family October 28, 1955
1961

Early education

Attended View Ridge Elementary School and later Lakeside School in Seattle.

Education September 1, 1961 - June 1, 1967
1967

Started Lakeside School

Attended Lakeside School, where he discovered his interest in computers and programming.

Education September 1, 1967 - June 1, 1973
1968

First computer program

Wrote his first computer program, a tic-tac-toe game, on a GE computer at Lakeside School.

Achievement January 1, 1968

Met Paul Allen

Met future Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen at Lakeside School; they collaborated on programming projects.

Relationship January 1, 1968
1972

Formed Traf-O-Data

Co-founded Traf-O-Data with Paul Allen to analyze traffic data, gaining early business experience.

Achievement January 1, 1972 - April 1, 1975
1973

Started at Harvard

Enrolled at Harvard College but left to pursue software development.

Education September 1, 1973 - June 1, 1975
1975

Founded Microsoft

Co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen, beginning the personal computer revolution.

Career April 4, 1975
1979

Moved Microsoft to Washington

Moved Microsoft from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Bellevue, Washington, to expand operations.

Location January 1, 1979
1980

IBM partnership

Secured a partnership with IBM to provide an operating system, leading to MS-DOS.

Achievement November 6, 1980
1985

Windows 1.0 released

Released Microsoft Windows 1.0, introducing a graphical user interface.

Achievement November 20, 1985
1986

Microsoft IPO

Microsoft went public, making Gates one of the youngest billionaires in history.

Achievement March 13, 1986
1994

Married Melinda French

Married Melinda French, with whom he has three children.

Relationship January 1, 1994
1998

Antitrust case

Microsoft faced a major antitrust lawsuit by the U.S. government over monopolistic practices.

Other May 18, 1998 - November 2, 2001
2000

Founded Gates Foundation

Co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, focusing on global health and education.

Achievement January 1, 2000

Stepped down as Microsoft CEO

Stepped down as CEO to focus on philanthropy but remained chairman and chief software architect.

Other January 13, 2000
2004

Berkshire Hathaway board

Served on the board of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett's holding company.

Other December 1, 2004 - March 13, 2020
2010

Launched Giving Pledge

Launched the Giving Pledge with Warren Buffett, encouraging billionaires to give away most of their wealth.

Achievement August 4, 2010
2020

Left Microsoft board

Left Microsoft's board to focus full-time on philanthropic work.

Other March 13, 2020
2021

Divorced Melinda French Gates

Divorced Melinda French Gates after 27 years of marriage but continued joint philanthropic work.

Other August 2, 2021

Legacy and influence

Gates remains a leading figure in technology and philanthropy, with a lasting impact on global health, education, and software.

Achievement August 3, 2021 - June 5, 2025