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Co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen at age 19 — Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1975
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Wrote his first computer program at age 13 on a GE-225 mainframe
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Microsoft's first product: a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800
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IBM licensed MS-DOS from Microsoft in 1980 — the deal that built an empire
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Microsoft went public at $21 per share on March 13, 1986
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Became the world's youngest self-made billionaire at age 31 in 1987
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Net worth peaked at $101 billion during the dot-com boom of 1999
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Held the title of world's richest person for 13 of 16 years between 1995 and 2009
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Windows 95 sold 7 million copies in its first five weeks
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Predicted the internet's commercial rise in 'The Road Ahead' — 1995
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Predicted a global pandemic in a 2015 TED Talk — five years before COVID-19
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Predicted smartphones, social media, and price-comparison shopping in 1999
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Co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000
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The Gates Foundation is the world's largest private charitable foundation
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Has donated over $59.5 billion through the Gates Foundation since 2000
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Signed the Giving Pledge in 2010 — committed to donating 95% of his wealth
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The Foundation has helped vaccinate over 1 billion children worldwide
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Stepped down as Microsoft CEO in January 2000 to focus on software
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Left the Microsoft board entirely in March 2020
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Co-founded TerraPower in 2006 to develop next-generation nuclear reactors
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TerraPower broke ground on its first commercial reactor in Wyoming — 2023
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Co-founded Breakthrough Energy in 2015 to accelerate global clean energy investment
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Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama — November 2016
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Received India's Padma Bhushan, the country's third-highest civilian honor — 2015
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Harvard gave Gates an honorary degree in 2007 — 32 years after he dropped out
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Reads approximately 50 books per year
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Has made over 25 documented predictions that have proven correct
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Microsoft surpassed a $500 billion market cap in 1999
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The Gates Foundation has committed over $21 billion to global health programs
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Authored three books: The Road Ahead · Business @ the Speed of Thought · How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
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Co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen at age 19 — Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1975
◈
Wrote his first computer program at age 13 on a GE-225 mainframe
◈
Microsoft's first product: a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800
◈
IBM licensed MS-DOS from Microsoft in 1980 — the deal that built an empire
◈
Microsoft went public at $21 per share on March 13, 1986
◈
Became the world's youngest self-made billionaire at age 31 in 1987
◈
Net worth peaked at $101 billion during the dot-com boom of 1999
◈
Held the title of world's richest person for 13 of 16 years between 1995 and 2009
◈
Windows 95 sold 7 million copies in its first five weeks
◈
Predicted the internet's commercial rise in 'The Road Ahead' — 1995
◈
Predicted a global pandemic in a 2015 TED Talk — five years before COVID-19
◈
Predicted smartphones, social media, and price-comparison shopping in 1999
◈
Co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000
◈
The Gates Foundation is the world's largest private charitable foundation
◈
Has donated over $59.5 billion through the Gates Foundation since 2000
◈
Signed the Giving Pledge in 2010 — committed to donating 95% of his wealth
◈
The Foundation has helped vaccinate over 1 billion children worldwide
◈
Stepped down as Microsoft CEO in January 2000 to focus on software
◈
Left the Microsoft board entirely in March 2020
◈
Co-founded TerraPower in 2006 to develop next-generation nuclear reactors
◈
TerraPower broke ground on its first commercial reactor in Wyoming — 2023
◈
Co-founded Breakthrough Energy in 2015 to accelerate global clean energy investment
◈
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama — November 2016
◈
Received India's Padma Bhushan, the country's third-highest civilian honor — 2015
◈
Harvard gave Gates an honorary degree in 2007 — 32 years after he dropped out
◈
Reads approximately 50 books per year
◈
Has made over 25 documented predictions that have proven correct
◈
Microsoft surpassed a $500 billion market cap in 1999
◈
The Gates Foundation has committed over $21 billion to global health programs
◈
Authored three books: The Road Ahead · Business @ the Speed of Thought · How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
◈
All Accomplishments
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Breakthrough Energy Ventures Backs Pachama Forest Carbon Monitoring Platform with $5 Million Seed (September 2020) | The Bill Gates Archive