Bill Gates Profile

Early Life & Education

Bill Gates, born William Henry Gates III, was born on October 28, 1955 in Seattle, Washington. Gates grew up in an upper-middle-class family and attended the Lakeside School, a private school in Seattle. He had an early interest in computers and programming, and he and some of his schoolmates formed the Lakeside Programmers Club, which had access to a computer owned by the school. Gates’s early education was focused on math and science, and he excelled in these subjects.

In 1973, Gates graduated from Lakeside School and enrolled at Harvard College, where he intended to study law. However, he quickly became interested in computer science and began to spend more and more time working on programming projects. He also formed a partnership with his childhood friend Paul Allen, and they began to work on software development together.

In 1975, while still a student at Harvard, Gates and Allen formed the company Micro-Soft, which was later changed to Microsoft. They developed the software BASIC for the Altair 8800 computer and subsequently became the leading provider of operating systems for the personal computer revolution of the 1980s.

Gates dropped out of Harvard in 1975 to focus on Microsoft, but he continued to take classes and eventually received an honorary degree in 2007. He became one of the wealthiest people in the world as a result of his work in the technology industry.

Gates Family: Parents & Siblings

Father: William H. Gates Sr. was an attorney and philanthropist. He was born on November 30, 1925 and passed away on September 14, 2020. He was a prominent civic leader in Seattle, Washington and was known for his work in promoting civic causes and philanthropy. He served as the president of the United Way of King County and the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. He was also a founding member of the Technology Alliance, a group of technology-based companies in the Pacific Northwest.

Mother: Mary Maxwell Gates was a businesswoman and philanthropist. She was born on March 18, 1929 and passed away on June 10, 1994. She served on several boards, including those of First Interstate Bank of Washington, the United Way of America, and the national board of Directors of the Girl Scouts of the USA. She was also a director of the National Parks Conservation Association. She was known for her philanthropic work in the areas of education, health care, and the arts.

Sister: Kristi Anne Gates was born on March 1, 1950, and she is 2 years younger than Bill Gates. She is a former businesswoman and philanthropist. She has also been involved in the philanthropic efforts of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, but to a lesser extent compared to Ralph. It is not publicly known about Kristi’s current profession or involvement in any organizations or foundations. She is a graduate of the University of Washington and has been involved in a few business venture, but not much information is publicly available.

Brother: Ralph Gates was born on December 11, 1953. He is a retired attorney and philanthropist. He has worked with his brother Bill on various philanthropic efforts through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Ralph is also a director of the foundation and has been actively involved in the foundation’s work to improve global health and reduce poverty. He also served as a trustee of the Gates Library Foundation, which was a precursor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Ralph is not as well-known as his brother Bill, but he has played an important role in the Gates’ philanthropic efforts. Ralph also serves as a Director of the Following companies: Berkshire Hathaway Inc, Costco Wholesale Corporation, Ecolab Inc. And The Washington Post Company.

List of all companies owned by Bill Gates

Microsoft: Co-founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975, it is one of the largest technology companies in the world and is known for its Windows operating system and Office software. Bill Gates served as the CEO of Microsoft from 1975 to 2000 and as chairman until 2014, during which time the company grew to become the world’s largest personal-computer software company. He remains a technical advisor and a member of the Board of Directors.
Cascade Investment: A private investment firm that manages Bill Gates’ assets and holdings. It was established in 1995 and is based in Kirkland, Washington. The firm holds stakes in various companies such as Ecolab, Berkshire Hathaway, Canadian National Railway, AutoNation, and more.
TerraPower: A nuclear energy company, founded in 2008, Bill Gates serves as the Chairman of the Board. The company develops advanced nuclear reactor technologies with the goal of making nuclear power more affordable, sustainable and accessible.
Breakthrough Energy: A venture fund founded in 2015, Bill Gates serves as Co-chair. The fund invests in clean energy technologies that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
Corbis: A digital media company, founded in 1989, Bill Gates purchased the company in 1984. It was sold to an affiliate of Visual China Group in 2016. Corbis was a provider of digital media licensing and rights management services for photographers, artists, and other content creators.
Ecolab: American multinational provider of water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions, Bill Gates holds a small share in this company via his investment firm Cascade Investment. The company was founded in 1923 and has its headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota
Berkshire Hathaway: American multinational conglomerate holding company, Bill Gates holds a small share in this company via his investment firm Cascade Investment. The company was founded in 1889 and has its headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska
Costco Wholesale Corporation: American multinational corporation which operates a chain of membership-only warehouse clubs, Bill Gates holds a small share in this company via his investment firm Cascade Investment. The company was founded in 1983 and has its headquarters in Issaquah, Washington
The Washington Post Company: American mass media company, Bill Gates holds a small share in this company via his investment firm Cascade Investment. The company was founded in 1877 and has its headquarters in Washington D.C.