The Inspiring Story of Bill Gates That Will Leave You Speechless!

Bill Gates is a tech pioneer and entrepreneur who needs no introduction. Bill Gates’ journey from a college dropout to a tech titan is jaw-dropping, inspiring, and worth sharing. Gates co-founded Microsoft, which is the largest software company in the world. He is one of the most influential people in the world who has made significant contributions to the software industry. He is also a philanthropist who has donated billions to social causes.

Personal Life

Bill Gates was born in Seattle, Washington on 28th October 1955. He is the son of William H. Gates Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates. Gates has two sisters, Kristi and Libby. His father was a lawyer, and his mother was a teacher. Gates attended Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington, where he met Paul Allen who later became his business partner. In 1994, Bill married Melinda French, who was working at Microsoft at the time. Bill and Melinda have three children. In 2021, Bill and Melinda announced their decision to end their marriage but continue their philanthropic work together.

Birth of Microsoft

Bill Gates has always been fascinated by technology from a very young age. He started programming at the age of 13 and built his first software when at the young age of 14. Gates got selected by the prestigious Harvard University. In 1975, when he was in his sophomore year, he dropped out of college to start his own company, Microsoft, with his childhood friend Paul Allen. They started the company to develop software for personal computers, a novel concept at that time.

Microsoft’s real breakthrough was the development of MS-DOS. DOS was the operating system that powered IBM’s first personal computer. This partnership with IBM propelled Microsoft to the forefront of the software industry. However, the launch of the first Windows in 1985 which had a graphical interface and was an extension to DOS solidified Microsoft’s dominance and transformed personal computing around the world.

Microsoft is currently the 2nd largest company in the world in terms of Market Capitalization. Bill Gates held the title of the world’s richest man for almost 19 years. Despite the donation of more than $50 billion to various charities since 1994 and approx. $60 billion in the divorce settlement, he still has a net worth of over $130 billion, making him the 5th richest person on Earth. Bill worked full-time at Microsoft till 2008. From the year 2008 to early 2020, he remained on the Microsoft board. He left his board seat at Microsoft in 2020 to focus on his Philanthropy efforts.

Philanthropy

Bill Gates has been involved in several philanthropic endeavors through The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill co-chairs the foundation. They have dedicated themselves to addressing global challenges in the areas of healthcare, education, and poverty eradication. Their foundation is the second-largest charitable foundation in the world with approx $50.2 billion Endowment (The largest being Novo Nordisk Foundation with $120.2 billion Endowment).

Lifestyle – Mansions, Jets, Cars & More

As one of the wealthiest beings on the planet, Bill Gates has access to a wide range of luxuries that befits his status. Here are a few of the luxuries that Bill Gates enjoys:

• Bill Gates owns several opulent properties around the world. He lives in an ultra-luxurious and hi-tech mansion, 66000 square foot mansion, “Xanadu 2.0” in Medina, Washington, which is worth over $131 million. This mansion is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including a personalized temperature system, a library, an indoor/outdoor pool with an underwater music system, a trampoline room, and a private beach with breathtaking waterfront views.
• Bill Gates also owns four private jets. Two Gulfstream G650ERs and Two Bombardier Challenger 350s. He also has a Cessna Seaplane and A Eurocopter EC 135 helicopter. In his own words, the ownership of jets is his “guilty pleasure”.
• Gates loves cars and owns a collection of expensive cars, including a rare Porsche 959, Porsche 911, Porsche Taycan, and a Ferrari 348.
• Bill Gates also has an impressive art collection that includes valuable pieces from renowned artists. His art collection is diverse and includes paintings, sculptures, and photography.

Though he has the means to enjoy the luxuries, his dedication to philanthropy demonstrates his commitment to making a difference in the world.

Some Interesting Facts about Bill Gates – IQ, Net Worth

• Bill Gates has a great memory and he claims to remember every line of code even from the very first software he wrote. He uses visualization techniques to permanently commit the information to his memory. The same technique was used by Sherlock Holmes, the famous fictional detective.
• There is no record that he was tested for his IQ but it is estimated that his IQ should be close to 160. It can be concluded from the fact that he was a child prodigy. He learned programming from a computer manual and made the Tic-Tac-Toe game within a matter of months which otherwise people with normal intelligence would have taken years to make.
• Gates is a voracious reader and reads more than 50 books every year. A few of his favorite books are: Strangers in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein, The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey, Mendeleyev’s Dream by Paul Strathern, Surrender by Bono, Team of Rivals: The political genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
• Bill Gates’s net worth is estimated to be around $130 billion, making him the 5th richest person in the world. Gates has pledged to donate all of his fortune to charity.
• One of Bill Gates’ happiest moments was when Microsoft went public in 1986, making him an instant billionaire.
• One of the biggest challenges that Bill Gates faced was an antitrust lawsuit filed by the US Government against Microsoft in 1998. The lawsuit lasted for several years and had a significant impact on the company.
• Bill Gates is known for his determination, focus, and hard work. He is a visionary leader and has a deep understanding of the tech world.
• Bill Gates is an atheist and does not believe in any religion. He does believe in giving back to society and Karma. He is a strong believer in the power of science and technology to make the world a better place.
• Bill Gates has been a vocal advocate for climate change and healthcare reform. He has also been involved in various philanthropic initiatives, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
• Bill Gates is an avid bridge player and has participated in competitive bridge tournaments.
• Bill and Warren Buffett started an initiative called the “Giving Pledge”, which encourages billionaires to commit a majority of their wealth to philanthropy.
• Answer to some FAQ –
  • What does Bill Gates do today? He co-chairs “The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation”. He also plays bridge and reads books.
  • What is Bill Gates’s IQ? There is no record of him taking a test BUT from all the sources we referred to, we found out that his IQ is estimated to be around 160 (i.e. he is an extraordinary man with extreme intelligence)
  • Why Bill Gates is Famous? Gates co-founded Microsoft and held the title of the world’s richest man for 15 years. He also donated a huge sum to charities that work on improving the lives of people (especially the less fortunate) across the globe.
  • What does Bill Gates do at Microsoft? Nothing actually. He retired from Microsoft’s day-to-day operations in 2008 but remained on the board until 2020. Since then he is only a shareholder of Microsoft, which owns about 103 Million Shares of Microsoft which translates to approx 1.38% of Microsoft.
• Bill Gates also authored a few bestselling books. The list of some of his books are as follows:
  • The Road Ahead – Published in 1995
  • Business @ The Speed of Thought – Published in 1999
  • How to Avoid a Climate Disaster – Published in 2021
  • How to Prevent the Next Pandemic – Published in 2022

Inspirational Quotes by Bill Gates

Here are some Inspirational Quotes (a few paraphrased and a few excerpts) from Bill Gates’ public speeches and writings:

• “Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.”
• “We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.”
• “If you can’t make it good, at least make it look good.”
• “As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.”
• “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
• “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.”
• “It’s fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.”
• “We make the future sustainable when we invest in the poor, not when we insist on their suffering.”
• “We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.”
• “Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.”

Lesson from Bill Gates’ life

We learn from Bill Gates’ life that with hard work, determination, and an uncluttered vision, we can achieve anything we desire in our lives. He also reminds us of the importance of giving back to society and making a positive impact on the world. Bill Gates is a true inspiration to millions of people around the world.

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