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Born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, famed entrepreneur Bill Gates began to show an
interest in computer programming at age 13. Through technological innovation, keen business
strategy and aggressive business tactics, he and partner Paul Allen built the world's largest
software business, Microsoft. In the process, Gates became one of the richest men in the world. In
February 2014, Gates announced that he was stepping down as Microsoft's chairman.
Early Life
Bill Gates was born William Henry Gates III on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington. Gates
began to show an interest in computer programming at the age of 13 at the Lakeside School. He
pursued his passion through college. Striking out on his own with his friend and business partner
Paul Allen, Gates found himself at the right place at the right time. Through technological
innovation, keen business strategy and aggressive business tactics, he built the world's largest
software business, Microsoft. In the process, Gates became one of the richest men in the world.
Bill Gates grew up in an upper middle-class family with two sisters: Kristianne, who is older, and
Libby, who is younger. Their father, William H. Gates Sr., was a promising, if somewhat shy, law
student when he met his future wife, Mary Maxwell. She was an athletic, outgoing student at the
University of Washington, actively involved in student affairs and leadership. The Gates family
atmosphere was warm and close, and all three children were encouraged to be competitive and
strive for excellence. Bill showed early signs of competitiveness when he coordinated family athletic
games at their summer house on Puget Sound. He also relished in playing board games (Risk was
his favorite) and excelled at Monopoly.
Bill had a very close relationship with his mother, Mary, who after a brief career as a teacher
devoted her time to helping raise the children and working on civic affairs and with charities. She
also served on several corporate boards, including those of the First Interstate Bank in Seattle
(founded by her grandfather), the United Way and International Business Machines (IBM). She
would often take Bill along when she volunteered in schools and at community organizations.
Bill was a voracious reader as a child, spending many hours pouring over reference books such as
the encyclopedia. Around the age of 11 or 12, Bill's parents began to have concerns about his
behavior. He was doing well in school, but he seemed bored and withdrawn at times. His parents
worried he might become a loner. Though they were strong believers in public education, when Bill
turned 13, they enrolled him at Seattle's Lakeside School, an exclusive preparatory school. He
blossomed in nearly all his subjects, excelling in math and science, but also doing very well in
drama and English.
While at Lakeside School, a Seattle computer company offered to provide computer time for the
students. The Mother's Club used proceeds from the school's rummage sale to purchase a teletype
terminal for students to use. Bill Gates became entranced with what a computer could do and spent
much of his free time working on the terminal. He wrote a tic-tac-toe program in BASIC computer
language that allowed users to play against the computer.
It was at Lakeside School where Bill met Paul Allen, who was two years his senior. The two became
fast friends, bonding on their common enthusiasm over computers, even though they were very
different. Allen was more reserved and shy. Bill was feisty and at times combative. They both spent
much of their free time together working on programs. Occasionally, they disagreed and would
clash over who was right or who should run the computer lab. On one occasion, their argument
escalated to the point where Allen banned Gates from the computer lab. On another occasion,
Gates and Allen had their school computer privileges revoked for taking advantage of software
glitches to obtain free computer time from the company that provided the computers. After their
probation, they were allowed back in the computer lab when they offered to debug the program.
During this time, Gates developed a payroll program for the computer company the boys hacked
into, and a scheduling program for the school.
In 1970, at the age of 15, Bill Gates went into business with his pal, Paul Allen. They developed
"Traf-o-Data," a computer program that monitored traffic patterns in Seattle, and netted $20,000 for
their efforts. Gates and Allen wanted to start their own company, but Gates's parents wanted him to
finish school and go on to college where they hoped he would work to become a lawyer.
Bill Gates graduated from Lakeside in 1973. He scored 1590 out of 1600 on the college SAT test, a
feat of intellectual achievement that for several years he boasted about when introducing himself to
new people.
Sinopsis
Nacido el 28 de octubre de 1955, en Seattle, Washington, empresario
famoso Bill Gates comenz a mostrar un inters en la programacin de
computadoras a los 13 aos a travs de la innovacin tecnolgica, la
estrategia de negocios entusiasta y tcticas comerciales agresivas, l y
su socio Paul Allen construye software ms grande del mundo negocio,
Microsoft. En el proceso, las puertas se convirti en uno de los hombres
ms ricos del mundo. En febrero de 2014, Gates anunci que dejaba el
cargo de presidente de Microsoft.
Primeros Aos De Vida
Bill Gates naci William Henry Gates III el 28 de octubre de 1955, en
Seattle, Washington. Gates, comenz a mostrar un inters en la
programacin de computadoras a la edad de 13 en la Escuela de
Lakeside. Prosigui su pasin a travs de la universidad. Sorprendente
por su cuenta con su amigo y socio Paul Allen, Gates se encontraba en el
lugar correcto en el momento adecuado. A travs de la innovacin
tecnolgica, la estrategia de negocios entusiasta y tcticas comerciales
agresivas, que construy el negocio de software ms grande del mundo,
Microsoft. En el proceso, las puertas se convirti en uno de los hombres
ms ricos del mundo.
Bill Gates se cri en una familia de clase media alta con dos hermanas:
Kristianne, que es mayor, y Libby, que es ms joven. Su padre, William
H. Gates Sr., era un prometedor, aunque algo tmido, estudiante de
derecho cuando conoci a su futura esposa, Mary Maxwell. Ella era una
estudiante de atletismo, saliente en la Universidad de Washington, que
participan activamente en los asuntos estudiantiles y liderazgo. El
ambiente familiar Gates fue clida y cercana, y los tres nios se anim a
ser competitivos y luchar por la excelencia. Bill mostr los primeros
signos de la competitividad cuando coordin la familia juegos atlticos
Early Career
Gates enrolled at Harvard University in the fall, originally thinking of a career in
law. But his freshman year saw him spend more of his time in the computer lab
than in class. Gates did not really have a study regimen. Instead, he could get
by on a few hours of sleep, cram for a test, and pass with a reasonable grade.
Gates remained in contact with Paul Allen, who, after attending Washington
State University for two years, dropped out and moved to Boston,
Massachusetts, to work for Honeywell. In the summer of 1974, Gates joined
Allen at Honeywell. During this time, Allen showed Gates an edition of Popular
Electronics magazine featuring an article on the Altair 8800 mini-computer kit.
Both boys were fascinated with the possibilities that this computer could create
in the world of personal computing. The Altair was made by a small company in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, called Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems
(MITS). Gates and Allen contacted the company, proclaiming that they were
working on a BASIC software program that would run the Altair computer. In
reality, they didn't have an Altair to work with or the code to run it. But they
wanted to know if MITS was interested in someone developing such software.
MITS was, and its president Ed Roberts asked the boys for a demonstration.
Gates and Allen scrambled, spending the next two months writing the software
at Harvard's computer lab. Allen traveled to Albuquerque for a test run at MITS,
never having tried it out on an Altair computer. It worked perfectly. Allen was
hired at MITS and Gates soon left Harvard to work with him, much to his
parents' dismay. In 1975, Gates and Allen formed a partnership they called
Micro-Soft, a blend of "micro-computer" and "software."
Microsoft (Gates and Allen dropped the hyphen in less than a year) started off
on shaky footing. Though their BASIC software program for the Altair computer
netted the company a fee and royalties, it wasn't meeting their overhead.
Microsoft's BASIC software was popular with computer hobbyists who obtained
pre-market copies and were reproducing and distributing them for free.
According to Gates's later account, only about 10 percent of the people using
BASIC in the Altair computer had actually paid for it. At this time, much of the
personal computer enthusiasts were people not in it for the money. They felt
the ease of reproduction and distribution allowed them to share software with
friends and fellow computer enthusiasts. Bill Gates thought differently. He saw
the free distribution of software as stealing, especially when it involved
software that was created to be sold.
In February of 1976, Gates wrote an open letter to computer hobbyists saying
that continued distribution and use of software without paying for it would
"prevent good software from being written." In essence, pirating software
would discourage developers from investing time and money into creating
quality software. The letter was unpopular with computer enthusiasts, but
Gates stuck to his beliefs and would use the threat of innovation as a defense
when faced with charges of unfair business practices.
Gates had a more acrimonious relationship with MITS president Ed Roberts,
often resulting in shouting matches. The combative Gates clashed with Roberts
on software development and the direction of the business. Roberts considered
Gates spoiled and obnoxious. In 1977, Roberts sold MITS to another computer
company, and went back to Georgia to enter medical school and become a
country doctor. Gates and Allen were on their own. The pair had to sue the new
owner of MITS to retain the software rights they had developed for Altair.
Microsoft wrote software in different formats for other computer companies
and, at the end of 1978, Gates moved the company's operations to Bellevue
Washington, just east of Seattle. Bill Gates was glad to be home again in the
Pacific Northwest, and threw himself into his work. All 25 employees of the
young company had broad responsibilities for all aspects of the operation,
product development, business development, and marketing. With his acumen
for software development and a keen business sense, Gates placed himself as
the head of Microsoft, which grossed $2.5 million in 1978. Gates was only 23.
The Rise of Microsoft
Gates's acumen for not only software development but also business
operations put him in the position of leading the company and working as its
spokesperson. He personally reviewed every line of code the company shipped,
often rewriting code when he saw it necessary. As the computer industry began
to grow with companies like Apple, Intel, and IBM developing hardware and
components, Bill was continuously out on the road touting the merits of
Microsoft software applications. He often took his mother with him. Mary was
highly respected and well connected with her membership on several corporate
boards including IBM. It was through Mary that Bill Gates met the CEO of IBM.
In November 1980, IBM was looking for software that would operate their
upcoming personal computer (PC) and approached Microsoft. Legend has it
that at the first meeting with Bill Gates someone at IBM mistook him for an
office assistant and asked him to serve coffee. Gates did look very young, but
he quickly impressed IBM, convincing them that he and his company could
meet their needs. The only problem was that Microsoft had not developed the
basic operating system that would run IBM's new computers. Not to be
stopped, Gates bought an operating system that was developed to run on
computers similar to IBM's PC. He made a deal with the software's developer,
making Microsoft the exclusive licensing agent and later full owner of the
software but not telling them of the IBM deal. The company later sued Microsoft
and Gates for withholding important information. Microsoft settled out of court
for an undisclosed amount, but neither Gates nor Microsoft admitted to any
wrong doing.
Gates had to adapt the newly purchased software to work for the IBM PC. He
delivered it for a $50,000 fee, the same price he had paid for the software in its
original form. IBM wanted to buy the source code, which would have given
them the information to the operating system. Gates refused, instead
proposing that IBM pay a licensing fee for copies of the software sold with their
computers. Doing this allowed Microsoft to license the software they called MSDOS to any other PC manufacturer, should other computer companies clone
the IBM PC, which they soon did. Microsoft also released software called
Softcard, which allowed Microsoft BASIC to operate on Apple II machines.
Between 1978 and 1981, Microsoft's growth exploded, and staff increased from
25 to 128. Revenue also shot up from $4 million to $16 million. In mid-1981
Gates and Allen incorporated Microsoft, and Gates was appointed president and
chairman of the board. Allen was named executive vice-president.
By 1983, Microsoft was going global with offices in Great Britain and Japan, and
with 30 percent of the world's computers running on its software. But 1983 also
brought news that rocked Microsoft to its very foundation. Paul Allen was
diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. Though his cancer went into remission a
year later with intensive treatment, Allen resigned from company that same
year. Rumors abound as to why Allen left Microsoft. Some say Bill Gates pushed
him out, but many say it was a life-changing experience for Allen and he saw
there were other opportunities that he could invest his time in.
Early Career
Gates, se matricul en la Universidad de Harvard en el otoo, originalmente
pensando en una carrera en la ley. Pero su primer ao lo vio pasar ms de su
tiempo en el laboratorio de computacin que en clase. Gates no tena
realmente un rgimen de estudio. En cambio, l podra sobrevivir con unas
pocas horas de sueo, abarrotar para una prueba, y pasar con un grado
razonable.
Gates, permaneci en contacto con Paul Allen, quien, despus de asistir a la
Universidad Estatal de Washington durante dos aos, se retir y se mud a
Boston, Massachusetts, a trabajar para Honeywell. En el verano de 1974, Gates
se uni a Allen en Honeywell. Durante este tiempo, Allen mostr Gates, una
edicin de la revista electrnica popular, con un artculo sobre el juego de miniordenador Altair 8800. Tanto los nios estaban fascinados con las posibilidades
que este equipo podra crear en el mundo de la computacin personal. El Altair
fue hecha por una pequea compaa en Albuquerque, Nuevo Mxico, llamado
Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS). Gates y Allen en contacto
con la empresa, proclamando que estaban trabajando en un programa de
software BASIC que funcionara la computadora Altair. En realidad, no tenan un
Altair para trabajar con o el cdigo para ejecutarlo. Pero ellos queran saber si
MITS estaba interesado en alguien desarrollar dicho software. MITS era, y su
presidente Ed Roberts pidi a los chicos para una demostracin. Gates y Allen
revueltos, pasar los prximos dos meses escribiendo el software en el
laboratorio de computacin de la Universidad de Harvard. Allen viaj a
Albuquerque para una prueba de funcionamiento en MITS, nunca tener lo prob
en un equipo Altair. Funcion a la perfeccin. Allen fue contratado a MITS y
Gates pronto abandon Harvard para trabajar con l, para gran consternacin
de sus padres. En 1975, Gates y Allen formaron una asociacin que llamaron
Micro-Soft, una mezcla de "micro-ordenador" y "software".
Microsoft (Gates y Allen dej caer el guin en menos de un ao) se ubic en pie
tambaleante. Aunque su programa de software de BASIC para el equipo Altair
anot la compaa una cuota y regalas, que no estaba cumpliendo con sus
gastos generales. Software BASIC de Microsoft era popular entre los aficionados
a los ordenadores que obtuvieron copias pre-mercado y estaban reproduciendo
y distribuyendo de forma gratuita. Segn el relato posterior de Gates, slo
alrededor del 10 por ciento de las personas que utilizan BASIC en la
computadora Altair haba efectivamente pagado por ello. En este momento,
gran parte de los aficionados a la informtica personales eran personas que no
estn en esto por el dinero. Sentan la facilidad de reproduccin y distribucin
les permiti compartir el software con los amigos y aficionados a la informtica
compaeros. Bill Gates pensaba diferente. Vio la distribucin gratuita de
software como el robo, sobre todo cuando se trataba de software que fue
creado para ser vendidos.
En febrero de 1976, Gates, escribi una carta abierta a los aficionados a los
ordenadores diciendo que la distribucin y el uso de software contina sin
pagar por ello sera "evitar que un buen software de ser por escrito." En
esencia, la piratera de software podra desalentar a los desarrolladores de
invertir tiempo y dinero en la creacin de software de calidad. La carta era
impopular entre los entusiastas de la informtica, pero Gates, se mantuvo en
sus creencias y utilizara la amenaza de la innovacin como una defensa frente
a la acusacin de prcticas desleales de comercio.
Gates, tena una relacin ms enconado con el presidente MITS Ed Roberts, a
menudo resulta en gritos partidos. El combativo Puertas enfrentaron con
Roberts en el desarrollo de software y la direccin de la empresa. Roberts
considera Puertas estropeado y odioso. En 1977, Roberts vendi MITS a otra
empresa de informtica, y regres a Georgia para entrar en la escuela de
medicina y convertirse en un mdico rural. Gates y Allen fueron por su cuenta.
La pareja tuvo que demandar a la nueva propietaria de MITS para retener los
derechos de software que haban desarrollado para Altair.
Microsoft escribi el software en diferentes formatos para otras empresas de
informtica y, a finales de 1978, Gates se traslad operaciones de la compaa
a Bellevue Washington, justo al este de Seattle. Bill Gates estaba contento de
estar en casa de nuevo en el noroeste del Pacfico, y se lanz a su trabajo. Los
25 empleados de la empresa joven tenan amplias responsabilidades para
todos los aspectos de la operacin, desarrollo de productos, desarrollo de
empresa ese mismo ao. Abundan los rumores en cuanto a porqu Allen dej
Microsoft. Algunos dicen que Bill Gates le empuj, pero muchos dicen que fue
una experiencia que cambia la vida de Allen y vio que haba otras
oportunidades que poda invertir su tiempo en.
million. Over time, the company's stock increased in value and split numerous times. In
1987, Bill Gates became a billionaire when the stock raised to $90.75 a share. Since then,
Gates has been at the top, or at least near the top, of Forbes' annual list of the top 400
wealthiest people in America. In 1999, with stock prices at an all time high and the stock
splitting eight-fold since its IPO, Gates's wealth briefly topped $101 billion.
Yet, Bill Gates never felt totally secure about the status of his company. Always having to
look over his shoulder to see where the competition was, he developed a white hot drive
and competitive spirit. Gates expected everyone in the company to have the same drive
and dedication. One story goes that one of Gates's assistants had come to work early to
find someone sleeping under a desk. She considered calling security or the police when
she discovered it was Gates.
Bill Gates's intelligence allowed him to be able to see all sides of the software industry
product development and corporate strategy. When analyzing any corporate move, he
would develop a profile of all the possible cases and run through them, asking questions
about anything that could possibly happen. His confrontational management style became
legend as he would challenge employees and their ideas to keep the creative process
going. An unprepared presenter would hear, "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!"
from Gates. But this was as much a test of the rigor of the employee as it was Gates's
passion for his company. He was constantly testing the people around him to see if they
were really convinced of their ideas.
Outside the company, Bill Gates was gaining a reputation as a ruthless competitor. Several
tech companies led by IBM began to develop their own operating system called OS/2 to
replace MS-DOS. Rather than give into the pressure, Gates pushed ahead with the
Windows software, improving its operation and expanding its uses. In 1989, Microsoft
introduced Microsoft Office which bundled office productivity applications such as Microsoft
Word and Excel into one system that was compatible with all Microsoft products. The
applications were not as easily compatible with OS/2. Microsoft's new version of Windows
sold 100,000 copies in just two weeks and OS/2 soon faded away. This left Microsoft with
a virtual monopoly on operating systems for PCs. Soon the Federal Trade Commission
began to investigate Microsoft for unfair marketing practices.
Microsoft faced a string of Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department
investigations throughout the 1990s. Some related allegations that Microsoft made unfair
deals with computer manufactures who installed the Windows operating system on their
computers. Other charges involved Microsoft forcing computer manufactures to sell
Microsoft's Internet Explorer as a condition for selling the Windows operating system with
their computers.
At one point, Microsoft faced a possible break up of its two divisionsoperating systems
and software development. Microsoft defended itself, harking back to Bill Gates's earlier
battles with software piracy, and proclaiming that such restrictions were a threat to
innovation. Eventually, Microsoft was able to find a settlement with the federal government
to avoid a breakup. Through it all, Gates found some inventive ways to deflect the
pressure with light-hearted commercials and public appearances at computer trade shows
posing as Star Trek's Mr. Spock. Gates continued to run the company and weather the
federal investigations through the 1990s.
Personal Life
In 1989, a 28-year-old Microsoft executive named Melinda French caught the eye of Bill
Gates, then 37. The very bright and organized Melinda was a perfect match for Gates. In
time, their relationship grew as they discovered an intimate and intellectual connection. On
January 1, 1994, Melinda and Bill were married in Hawaii. But only a few months later
heartbreak struck Bill Gates as his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She died in
June 1994. Gates was devastated.
Bill and Melinda took some time off in 1995 to travel to several countries and get a new
perspective on life and the world. In 1996, their first daughter, Jennifer, was born. A year
later, Gates moved his family into a 55,000 square foot, $54 million house on the shore of
Lake Washington. Though the house serves as a business center, it is said to be a very
cozy home for the couple and their three children.
Philanthropic Efforts
With wife Melinda's influence, Gates took an interest in filling his mother's role as a civic
leader. He began to realize that he had an obligation to give more of his wealth to charity.
Being the consummate student he was, Gates studied the philanthropic work of Andrew
Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller, titans of the American industrial revolution. In 1994,
Gates and his wife established the William H. Gates Foundation which was dedicated to
supporting education, world health, and investment in low-income communities. In 2000,
the couple combined several family foundations to form the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation. They started out by making a $28 billion contribution to set up the foundation.
Bill Gates stepped down from the day-to-day operations of Microsoft in 2000, turning over
the job of CEO to college friend Steve Ballmer who had been with Microsoft since 1980.
He positioned himself as chief software architect so he could concentrate on what was for
him the more passionate side of the business. He still remains chairman of the board.
Over the next few years, his involvement with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
occupied much of his time and even more of his interest. In 2006, Gates announced he
was transitioning himself from full-time work at Microsoft, to devote more quality time to the
Foundation. His last full day at Microsoft was June 27, 2008.
In addition to all the accolades of being one of the most successful and richest
businessmen in the history of the world, Bill Gates has also received numerous awards for
philanthropic work. Time magazine named Gates one of the most influential people of the
20th century. The magazine also named Gates, his wife Melinda, and rock band U2's lead
singer Bono as the 2005 Persons of the Year.
Gates also holds several honorary doctorates from universities throughout the world and
an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.
In 2006, Gates and his wife were awarded the Order of the Aztec Eagle by the Mexican
government for their philanthropic work throughout the world in the areas of health and
education.
In February 2014, Gates announced that he would be stepping down as chairman of
Microsoft in order to move into a new position as technology adviser. In addition to Gates's
transition, it was reported that longtime Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer would be replaced
by 46-year-old Satya Nadella.
Bill Gates
(William Henry Gates III; Seattle, Washington, 1955) Informtico y empresario
estadounidense, fundador de Microsoft. La fortuna de este precoz programador, que no
lleg a terminar sus estudios y que a los 31 aos era ya multimillonario, procede del xito
arrollador de su sistema operativo, el MS-DOS (1981), que evolucionara hasta
convertirse en el popular Windows 3.1 (1992) y dara lugar a las sucesivas versiones de
este sistema operativo, omnipresente hasta nuestros das en la inmensa mayora de los
ordenadores porttiles y de sobremesa.
Bill Gates
Es difcil juzgar hasta qu punto fue suerte o genial intuicin advertir que, en la eclosin
de la informtica de consumo, haba un mercado tan valioso en la fabricacin de
ordenadores (hardware) como en la creacin del sistema operativo y de los programas
que haban de emplearse en ellos (software). Lo cierto es que, mientras los fabricantes
competan duramente por el hardware, una serie de circunstancias llevaron a que su
sistema operativo se extendiese hasta quedar sin apenas competencia. De hecho, a
menudo se ha acusado a Microsoft de prcticas monopolsticas, y a su fundador de falta
de verdadera creatividad. Pero, aun admitindolo, deber reconocerse que su
contribucin efectiva a la popularizacin de la informtica (y a la vertiginosa escalada
tecnolgica que ha conllevado) fue inmensa.
Biografa
Bill Gates naci en una familia acomodada que le proporcion una educacin en centros
de lite como la Escuela de Lakeside (1967-73) y la Universidad de Harvard (1973-77).
Siempre en colaboracin con su amigo Paul Allen, se introdujo en el mundo de la
informtica formando un pequeo equipo dedicado a la realizacin de programas que
vendan a empresas o administraciones pblicas. En 1975 se trasladaron a Alburquerque
(Nuevo Mxico) para trabajar suministrando a la compaa MITS una serie de programas
susceptibles de ser utilizados con el primer microordenador, el Altair, para el cual haban
desarrollado una versin del lenguaje de programacin BASIC.
con IBM para suministrarle un sistema operativo adaptado a sus ordenadores personales,
el MS-DOS, que desde 1981 ira instalado en todos los ordenadores de la marca.
IBM obtuvo un gran xito comercial con su PC. Con un precio que, con el paso de los
aos, sera cada vez ms asequible, cualquier consumidor poda comprar una
computadora de tamao reducido, cuyas aplicaciones no hacan sino aumentar, y que
abarcaban tanto el ocio como mltiples actividades laborales. Pero IBM tambin cometi
errores en el uso de la patente. Muchas empresas, conscientes del gran boom que se
avecinaba, se lanzaron a la fabricacin y comercializacin de PC compatibles, llamados
en la jerga informtica clnicos, ms econmicos que los de IBM.
El mercado se inund de ordenadores personales compatibles con el de IBM que
funcionaban con el sistema operativo de Microsoft, que poda venir instalado o adquirirse
por separado, porque, aunque IBM lo haba encargado, el MS-DOS no era de sus
propiedad: haba cedido los derechos de venta a Microsoft. Por otro lado, aparte de las
empresas y administraciones, no siempre los usuarios adquiran la licencia del MS-DOS.
Era sencillsimo conseguir una copia e instalarlo sin pagar, hecho que favoreci an ms
su difusin.
Bill Gates
El MS-DOS, sin embargo, era un entorno poco amigable, cuyo manejo requera el
conocimiento de comandos que se introducan a travs del teclado. Con el lanzamiento en
1984 del ordenador personal Macintosh, Apple pareci tomar de nuevo la delantera. Su
sistema de ventanas supuso un salto cualitativo; su interfaz simulaba la distribucin de
una mesa de trabajo por medio de iconos. Un pequeo aparato, el ratn, cuyo movimiento
se reflejaba en la pantalla con un icono parpadeante, permita recorrerla en busca del
documento o programa buscado. En lugar de tener que recordar los comandos de cada
una de las operaciones y teclearlos en cada momento, bastaba acudir a los listados de
acciones posibles y hacer clic con el ratn sobre la opcin elegida.
Por el momento, aquellas innovaciones no parecan hacer sombra a Bill Gates. En 1983
Paul Allen dej Microsoft, aquejado de una grave enfermedad. Y cuando, en 1986,
Microsoft sali a la Bolsa, las acciones se cotizaron tan alto que Bill Gates se convirti en
el multimillonario ms joven de la historia. Volcado en un proceso de innovacin
tecnolgica acelerada, y en su caso imitando ms el Macintosh de Apple que innovando,
Gates lanz una interfaz grfica para MS-DOS llamada Windows: Windows 3.0 en 1990 y
Windows 3.1 en 1992.
No era, en realidad, un nuevo sistema operativo, sino, como se ha dicho, una interfaz
grfica con ratn, iconos y ventanas bajo la que segua corriendo el viejo MS-DOS, pero
fue muy bien recibido por los usuarios, que disponan finalmente de un sistema tan
intuitivo como el de Macintosh pero mucho ms econmico al funcionar sobre un PC,
gracias a lo cual se impuso fcilmente en el mercado. El enorme xito llev a la verdadera
renovacin que fue Windows 95 (en cuya campaa de promocin a escala mundial
asumi el propio Gates el papel de profeta de la sociedad ciberntica como
personificacin de Microsoft), al que seguiran Windows 98 y las sucesivas versiones de
este sistema operativo, de entre las que sobresale Windows XP (2001), el primero cien
por cien de nuevo cuo, que dejaba completamente de lado el antiguo MS-DOS.
Empresario y filntropo
El talento de Gates se ha reflejado en mltiples programas informticos, cuyo uso se ha
difundido por todo el mundo como lenguajes bsicos de los ordenadores personales; pero
tambin en el xito de una empresa flexible y competitiva, gestionada con criterios
heterodoxos y con una atencin especial a la seleccin y motivacin del personal. Las
innovaciones de Gates contribuyeron a la rpida difusin del uso de la informtica
personal, produciendo una innovacin tcnica trascendental en las formas de producir,
transmitir y consumir la informacin. El presidente Bush reconoci la importancia de la
obra de Gates otorgndole la Medalla Nacional de Tecnologa en 1992.
Gates con su esposa Melinda
Su rpido enriquecimiento ha ido acompaado de un discurso visionario y optimista sobre
un futuro transformado por la penetracin de los ordenadores en todas las facetas de la
vida cotidiana, respondiendo al sueo de introducir un ordenador personal en cada casa y
en cada puesto de trabajo; este discurso, que alienta una actitud positiva ante los grandes
cambios sociales de nuestra poca, goza de gran audiencia entre los jvenes de todo el
mundo por proceder del hombre que simboliza el xito material basado en el empleo de la
inteligencia (su libro Camino al futuro fue uno de los ms vendidos en 1995).
Los detractores de Bill Gates, que tambin son numerosos, le reprochan, no sin razn, su
falta de creatividad (ciertamente su talento y sus innovaciones no son comparables a las
de un Steve Jobs, y ms bien sigui los caminos que abra el fundador de Apple), y
critican asimismo su poltica empresarial, afirmando que se bas siempre en el monopolio
y en la absorcin de la competencia o del talento a golpe de talonario. A los crticos les
gusta subrayar un hecho totalmente real, pese a que parezca una leyenda urbana: ni
siquiera el MS-DOS es obra suya. Bill Gates lo compr por 50.000 dlares a un
programador de Seattle llamado Tim Paterson, le cambi el nombre y lo entreg a IBM.
En la actualidad, Microsoft sigue siendo una de las empresas ms valiosas del mundo,
pese a haber perdido diversas batallas, especialmente la de Internet y la de los sistemas
operativos para telfonos mviles, que lidera ahora Google (Sergei Brin y Larry Page),
otro gigante tan valioso como Microsoft. Frente al dinamismo de la era de Internet, en la
que surgen y se convierten rpidamente en multimillonarias nuevas ideas como la red
social Facebook, de Mark Zuckerberg, la empresa de Gates parece haber quedado algo
anquilosada, aunque no se pone en duda la solidez de su posicin.
Tampoco ello es exclusiva responsabilidad de Bill Gates, que ya en el ao 2000 cedi la
presidencia ejecutiva de Microsoft a Steve Ballmer y pas a ser arquitecto jefe de software
para centrarse en los aspectos tecnolgicos. Bill Gates haba contrado matrimonio en
1994 con Melinda French, con la que tendra tres hijos. En el ao 2000 cre, junto con su
esposa, la Fundacin Bill y Melinda Gates, institucin benfica dedicada a temas
sanitarios y educativos cuya esplndida dotacin econmica procede mayormente de su
fortuna personal. No en vano el fundador de Microsoft es un habitual de las listas anuales
de la revista Forbes: en 2014 la haba encabezado ya en quince ocasiones como el
hombre ms rico del planeta.
En 2008, Bill Gates abandon definitivamente Microsoft para dedicarse ntegramente a
sus labores en la fundacin, que haba recibido el Premio Prncipe de Asturias de
Cooperacin Internacional en 2006. Si antes fue una figura discutida, esta nueva etapa
como filntropo despierta ms bien unnime admiracin: al igual que lo fue su empresa,
su fundacin es la ms grande del mundo por lo que respecta a la cuanta de sus
aportaciones econmicas a toda clase de programas de ayuda, investigacin y desarrollo.
Biografa
Bill Gates Naci en Una Familia acomodada Que le proporcion Una Educacin
en Centros de lite Como la Escuela de Lakeside (1967-73) y la Universidad de
Harvard (1973-1977). Siempre en Colaboracin con su amigo Paul Allen, se
introdujo en el mundo de la informtica Formando ONU pequeo equipo
Dedicado a la Realizacin de Programas Que Vendian A Empresas o
Administraciones Pblicas. En 1975 se trasladaron a Alburquerque (Nuevo
Mxico), prrafo Trabajar suministrando a la Compaa MITS Una serie de
Programas susceptibles de Ser Utilizados con el cebador microordenador, el
Altair, prrafo el cual sea habian DESARROLLADO Una versin del Lenguaje de
programacin BASIC.
E El Mismo Ao fundaron en Alburquerque su Propia Empresa de Produccin de
software informtico, Microsoft Corporation, con Bill Gates, presidente de Como
y director general. Su negocio m consistia en elaborar Programas adaptados a
las Necesidades de Los Nuevos microordenadores Y ofrecrselos a las
Empresas Fabricantes Ms Baratos Que Si los hubieran DESARROLLADO Ellas
Mismas. De Cuando, en 1979, Microsoft comenzo un CRECER (contaba con then
Diecisis employees), Bill Gates decidio trasladar su sede a Seattle.
El negocio del software
A Principios de la Dcada de 1970, la Invencin del microprocesador permitio
abaratar y Reducir El tamao de las gigantescas Computadoras existentes
Hasta then. Era Un paso Decisivo Hacia un sueo largamente acariciado Por los
muchas Empresas punteras en el sector tecnolgico: Construir Ordenadores de
Tamao y precio Razonable Que permitiesen Llevar la informtica a por todas
las Empresas y Hogares. El Primero en Llegar podria Iniciar para un negocio
lucrativo y de Sumamente Enorme potencial. Era impensable Que Una Empresa
Como Microsoft, Solamente Dedicada al software (Sistemas Operativos y
Programas) pudiese jugar ALGN papel En Esta carrera Entre Fabricantes De
hardware, es Decir, de Mquinas.
Paul Allen y Bill Gates
Y As Fue AL PRINCIPIO: UNA COMPETICION Entre Fabricantes de Ordenadores
sin HONESTA Demasiado, pues Hubo Ms De plagio ONU. A los aos setenta
Mediados de, en la ONU garaje atestado de latas de aceite y Enseres
Domsticos, Steve Jobs y Stephen Wozniak disearon y construyeron Una placa
de circuitos de computadora, Toda una Muestra de Innovacin y de
imaginacin. Al Principio tenian la Intencin de vendedor solo la placa, Pero
pronto se convencieron de la Conveniencia de montar Una Empresa, Apple,
Ordenadores y vendedor. En 1977 empezaron a Comercializar La Segunda
versin de su Computadora personal, el Apple II, Que se vendia ONU de la
estafa Operativo Sistema CREADO Also Por de Apple: un histrico hito Que
marca el nacimiento de la informtica personal.
Bastante ingenuamente, Apple cometio el error de dar una conocer una Otras
Empresas las ESPECIFICACIONES Exactas del Apple II. Para desarrollar su
cartilla Ordenador personal, la Empresa IBM copio y adapto la arquitectura
abierta del Ordenador de Manzana y escogio el microprocesador Intel 8088,
Que manejaba ya Caracteres de 16 bits. De Este Modo, en 1981, IBM Pudo
Lanzar su cartilla PC (Personal Computer, Ordenador personal). Pero el Sistema
Operativo de su PC, prr imprescindible su FUNCIONAMIENTO, sin Sido HABIA
CREADO Por IBM, Por Sino Microsoft. Un Ao Antes, en 1980, Bill Gates Llegado
Habia una estafa Acuerdo ONU IBM prr suministrarle ONU Sistema Operativo
Adaptado una SUS Ordenadores Personales, el MS-DOS, Que desde 1981 Ira
Instalado poner todos los Ordenadores de la marca.
IBM obtuv Un gran xito comercial con su PC. Con A Un Precio Que, Con el
paso de los aos, Seria Cada Vez Ms Asequible, CUALQUIER consumer podia
comprar Una Computadora de Tamao, reducido Cuyas APLICACIONES sin
aumentar Sino hacian, Y Que abarcaban del tanto el ocio de Como Mltiples
Actividades Laborales. Pero IBM Also cometio Errores en el USO de la patente.
Muchas Empresas, conscientes del gran auge Que se avecinaba, se lanzaron a
la Fabricacin y Comercializacin de PC compatibles, Llamados en la jerga
informtica clnicos, Ms Econmicos Que los de IBM.
El Mercado se inund de Ordenadores Personales compatibles con el de IBM
Que funcionaban con el Sistema Operativo de Microsoft, Que podia venir
Instalado o adquirirse Por Separado, Porque, AUNQUE IBM HABIA lo Encargado,
el MS-DOS no era de Sus Propiedad: habia cedido los Derechos de venta de
Microsoft. Por Otro Lado, aparte de las Empresas ADMINISTRACIONES Y, no
siempre los Usuarios adquiran la Licencia del MS-DOS. Sencillsimo Era copia
Una CONSEGUIR e instalarlo Pagar pecado, Hecho Que favoreci: An ms su
difusin f.
Del MS-DOS de Windows
Aun existian options otra, Pero s quedaron bao minoritarias: Gracias a bajo
coste Do, La Combinacin PC ms El MS-DOS Acab copando El Mercado y
Convirtiendose en el Estndar. De Mientras los Fabricantes De Ordenadores
intentaban Reducir Costes, entregados a Una guerra de precios En de la Que
nadie Pudo Sacar Una posicion Dominante, Una Empresa de software, la de Bill
Gates, se Hizo con Prcticamente Todo el Mercado de Sistemas Operativos y
buena instancia de parte del de Programas.
A partir de ESE Momento, la expansin de Microsoft FUE espectacular. Y no
Porque Slo Los PC funcionar necesitaban Sistema Operativo ONU para, Porque
Also Sino los Programas y Aplicaciones Concretas (des Procesador de Textos,
Hoja de Clculo de las Naciones Unidas, juego des) se desarrollan Sobre la base
de la ONU de Sistema Operativo en concreto, y ESE system era el MS-DOS. Las
Distintas Empresas de software (y Entre Ellas La Misma Microsoft) desarrollar
podian, EJEMPLO POR, existe gama de Procesadores de Textos, compitiendo
Entre Ellas prrafo agradar al usuario. Pero Como la INMENSA Mayora de
Usuarios Tenia MS-DOS, desarrollaban Programas para funcionar con MS-DOS, Y
Por acababan Hacer la ONU a favor de una Microsoft, Que podia presumir De
Que SOBRE do Sistema Operativo podian funcionar TODOS LOS PROGRAMAS
imaginables: los suyos y Casi Todos los de la Competencia. Esa era viciosa
retroalimentacion El Fabuloso activo de Microsoft, Bill Gates y de supo
conservarlo.
Bill Gates
El MS-DOS, embargo de pecado, de la ONU era Entorno poco amigable, Cuyo
Manejo requera El Conocimiento de Comandos Que se introducan A travs del
teclado. Con El Lanzamiento en 1984 del Ordenador Macintosh personal, Apple
parecio Tomar de nuevo la Delantera. Su Sistema de Ventanas supus
cualitativo salto de la ONU; Do Interfaz simulaba la Distribucin De Una mesa
de Trabajo por medio de Iconos. Un Aparato pequeo, El Ratn, Cuyo
movimiento se reflejaba en la Pantalla con icono parpadeante de la ONU,
permitia recorrerla en busca del documento o Programa Buscado. En Lugar de
Tener que Recordar Los Comandos de Cada Una de las Operaciones y teclearlos
En Cada Momento, Bastaba un ACUDIR los Listados De Acciones Posibles y
Hacer clic con El Ratn Sobre la Opcin Elegida.
Por el Momento, Aquellas Innovaciones sin Sombra Hacer parecan un Bill
Gates. En 1983 Paul Allen dejo Microsoft, aquejado de Una tumba enfermedad.
Y Cuando, en 1986, Microsoft salio a la Bolsa, las Acciones se cotizaron tan alto
Que Bill Gates se convirtio en el multimillonario Ms joven de la historia.
Volcado En un Proceso de Innovacin Tecnolgica acelerada, y en su Caso
imitando Mas El Macintosh de Apple de Que innovando, Puertas Lanzo Una
Interfaz grfica prr MS-DOS Llamada Windows: Windows 3.0 en 1990 y
Windows 3.1 en 1992.
No era, en Realidad, Un Nuevo Sistema Operativo, chino, Como se ha DICHO,
Una Interfaz grfica con Ratn, Iconos Y Ventanas bajo La que seguia Corriendo
El Viejo MS-DOS, but FUE busque muy Recibido Por los Usuarios, Que disponan
finalmente un Sistema de las Naciones Unidas tan intuitivo Como el de
Macintosh Pero Mucho Ms Econmico al funcionar Sobre PC ONU, Gracias a lo
cual sea se impus facilmente en El Mercado. El Enorme xito llevo a la
Verdadera Renovacin Que Fue Windows 95 (en Cuya Campaa de Promocin a
escala Mundial asumio el propio Gates, el papel de profeta de la sociedad
ciberntica Como personificacin de Microsoft), Al que seguiran Windows 98 y
las sucesivas versions of this Operativo Sistema, de Entre las Que sobreventa
de Windows XP (2001), El Primero Cien por cien de nuevo cuo, Que dejaba
Completamente de lado el Antiguo MS-DOS.
Bill Gates en la Presentacin de Windows XP
Entretanto, El Negocio no habia cesado de CRECER (de los 1.200 Empleados
Que Tenia en 1986 Hasta Ms De 20.000 en 1996), y, con la generalizacin de
Windows Bill Gates Paso a ejercer ONU virtual monopolio del Mercado del
mundial de software, Por REFORZADO su victoria en el pleito de 1993 contra
Apple, habia Que demandado A por considerar Que era Microsoft Windows ONU
plagio de la Interfaz grfica de su Macintosh. Desde 1993 embarco a la
Compaa en La Promocin de los Soportes multimedia, especialmente en el
mbito Educativo.
: Adems de Windows MUCHOS de los Programas y Aplicaciones Concretas Ms
Bsicas e Importantes producidas Por La Empresa (el paquete ofimtico
Microsoft Office, EJEMPLO POR) Eran siempre las mas Vendidas. Surgieron los
muchas voces criticas Que censuraban su posicion monopolstica, y en
numerosas Ocasiones Microsoft llevada FUE: Por ello una los tribunales Por
Empresas competidoras y o Gobernadores, Detener Pero nada LOGRO su
continua ascensin.
Empresario y filntropo
El talento de Gates, se ha reflejado en Mltiples de Programas informticos,
CUYO USO se ha difundido Por Todo El Mundo Como lenguajes Bsicos de los
Ordenadores Personales; but also in el xito De Una Empresa flexibles y
Competitiva, Gestionada con criteria heterodoxos y con Una Atencin especial
a la Seleccin y Motivacin del personal. Las Innovaciones de Gates,
contribuyeron a la Rpida Difusin del USO de la informtica personal,
produciendo Una Innovacin Tcnica trascendental en las Formas de Producir,
Transmitir y Consumir LA INFORMACIN. El presidente Bush reconoci la
Importancia de la obra de Gates, otorgndole la Medalla Nacional de Tecnologa
en 1992.
Intro
Bill Gates
Bill Gates July 2014.jpg
Gates en julio de 2014.
Nombre
William Henry Gates III
Nacimiento 28 de octubre de 1955 (59 aos)
Bandera de los Estados Unidos Seattle, Washington, Estados Unidos
Residencia Medina, Washington, Estados Unidos
Nacionalidad
Estados Unidos
Alma mter Universidad de Harvard
Ocupacin Empresario, mecenas, programador, informtico terico, director
ejecutivo, ingeniero, filntropo, inventor y financiero
Empleador Microsoft
Patrimonio Crecimiento US$ 79.2 mil millones
(febrero de 2015)
Creencias religiosas
Ninguna (Agnstico)
Cnyuge
Melinda Gates
Hijos Jennifer Katharine (1996)
Rory John (1999)
IBM necesitaba ese sistema operativo para competir con Apple, razn por la
cual la negociacin era flexible.
Microsoft quiso los derechos de licencia, mantenimiento, e incluso la facultad
de vender el DOS a otras compaas. IBM acept, considerando que lo que
producira dividendos sera el hardware y no el software. Unos das despus,
Microsoft compr los derechos de autor del QDOS a Tim Paterson, que
trabajaba para la Seattle Computer Products, por 50 000 dlares , que vendi a
IBM como MS-DOS (Microsoft DOS).
Lo que llama poderosamente la atencin fue que IBM no comprara el MS-DOS
sino que decidiera pagar a Microsoft un canon por cada copia que se vendiera
junto con un IBM-PC. Lo que pocas veces se ha dicho es que por esos tiempos
la madre de Gates, Mary Maxwell, era directiva de la empresa United Way
conjuntamente con el CEO de IBM, John Opel.
Consciente de la importancia del entorno grfico que haba mostrado Apple
(originalmente la interfaz grfica y el "ratn" fueron desarrollados por Xerox
PARC) en su ordenador Lisa, se propuso conseguir tambin el entorno grfico y
el "ratn" para operarlo.
Mientras, Steve Jobs, fundador de Apple, iniciaba el desarrollo del Macintosh,
Bill Gates visit Apple. Ofreca mejorar sus hojas de clculo y otros programas.
Amenazaba con vender su material informtico a IBM, con lo que obtuvo una
alianza Apple-Microsoft. Microsoft obtuvo legalmente la tecnologa del entorno
grfico y del ratn, y sac al mercado Microsoft Windows, como directo
competidor de Macintosh.
Al comenzar el segundo milenio, el sistema operativo Microsoft Windows (en
todas sus versiones) se utiliza en la mayor parte de ordenadores personales del
planeta.
Desde 2007 Bill Gates ocupaba el segundo lugar en la lista anual de las
mayores fortunas personales realizada por la revista Forbes, detrs del
empresario mexicano Carlos Slim, pero debido a fluctuaciones en el patrimonio
de estos dos magnates, sus fortunas quedaron en 72.7 y 72.1 mil millones de
dlares respectivamente, segn el Bloomberg Billionaires Index de mayo de
2013. En 1994, adquiri un manuscrito de Leonardo da Vinci por 30 millones de
dlares.
Sede de la fundacin en Seattle.
El 16 de junio de 2006 hace pblica su intencin de abandonar sus labores
diarias al frente de Microsoft hacia 2008 para dedicarse por entero a la
fundacin . La transicin de responsabilidades ser progresiva para evitar
afecciones negativas en el desarrollo diario de la empresa, continuando como
Presidente Honorario de la misma.
El da 27 de junio de 2008 abandona sus labores al frente de Microsoft
cediendo el control de la empresa a Steve Ballmer; inicialmente Bill Gates
tendr dedicado su tiempo al 70 % con la Fundacin Bill y Melinda Gates y el
otro 30 % a la empresa.
Vida personal
Bill y su esposa Melinda Gates el 3 de junio de 2009.
En 1985 Gates fue nombrado uno de los 50 solteros ms codiciados por
Good Housekeeping. Est casado con Melinda French desde el 1 de enero de
1994 y tienen tres hijos: Jennifer Katharine (n. 1996), Phoebe Adele (n. 2002) y
Rory John (n. 1999). La familia reside en su casa en la ladera de una colina con
vistas al lago Washington, en Medina.
philanthropy, have 117.2 billion dollars in equity. In March 1999, before the
bubble burst of the dot com, net assets amounted to 136 billion dollars, making
him the twelfth richest person in the history of mankind.
He is married to Melinda Gates, who co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation, dedicated to rebalance opportunities in health and education at
the local level, especially in disadvantaged regions, which is why they have
been awarded the Prince Award Asturias International Cooperation 2006.
Biografa
William Henry Gates III was born on October 28, 1955. He is the son of William
Henry Gates II, a prominent lawyer, and Mary Gates, a professor at the
University of Washington and director of First Interstate Bank. With them and
his sister, two years older, lived in the city of Seattle in Washington State.
Through sixth grade was a regular student in a public school.
He studied at the elite private school in Lakeside, in Seattle. This school already
had a computer in 1968, so Gates was able to quickly contact with the machine
and dabbling in computer science. Also in Lakeside she met Paul Allen, who
later founded Microsoft.
He created the company of Microsoft software on April 4, 1975, while still a
student at Harvard University. In 1976 he left the university and moved to
Albuquerque, home of MITS, to agree with that company the assignment of a
language for computers, Basic, 50%. The following year, he learned of the
success of the company Apple and they needed a Basic interpreter.
Bill Gates in the IT-Forum Copenhagen, 2004.
In 1980, he met with representatives of IBM (International Business Machines
Corp.) in Seattle. He managed to sell the MS-DOS operating system, although
he still did not have it and then bought very cheaply to a young programmer.
IBM needed the operating system to compete with Apple, why negotiation was
flexible.
Microsoft wanted the license fees, maintenance, and even the power to sell the
DOS to other companies. IBM agreed, considering that it would produce
dividends would be the hardware, not the software. A few days later, Microsoft
bought the rights to QDOS author Tim Paterson, who worked for the Seattle
Computer Products for $ 50,000, which sold IBM as MS-DOS (Microsoft DOS).
What catches the attention was that IBM did not buy the MS-DOS but decided
to pay Microsoft a fee for each copy sold together with an IBM-PC. What is
rarely said is that in those times Gates' mother, Mary Maxwell, was company
policy United Way conjunction with IBM CEO John Opel.
Aware of the importance of the graphical environment that had been Apple
(originally the GUI and the "mouse" were developed by Xerox PARC) in its Lisa
computer was proposed also get the graphical environment and the "mouse" to
operate.
Meanwhile, Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, started the development of the
Macintosh, Apple Bill Gates visited. Offered improve their spreadsheets and
other programs. Threatened to sell his computer equipment from IBM, which
scored an Apple-Microsoft alliance. Microsoft technology obtained legally GUI
and mouse, and released the Microsoft Windows, Macintosh as a direct
competitor.
At the beginning of the second millennium, the Microsoft Windows operating
system (all versions) is used in most personal computers on the planet.
Since 2007 Bill Gates ranked second on the annual list of the largest personal
fortunes made by Forbes magazine, behind the Mexican businessman Carlos
Slim, but due to fluctuations in the equity of these two magnates, their fortunes
were at 72.7 and 72.1 thousand million respectively, according to the
Bloomberg Billionaires Index May 2013. In 1994, it acquired a manuscript of
Leonardo da Vinci 30 million.
Foundation headquarters in Seattle.
On June 16, 2006 made his intention to leave their daily work ahead of
Microsoft by 2008 to devote himself entirely to the foundation public. The
transition of responsibilities will be gradual to avoid negative conditions in the
daily development of the company, continuing as Honorary Chairman of the
company.
On June 27, 2008 leaving his duties as head of Microsoft ceding control of the
company to Steve Ballmer; Bill Gates initially have dedicated their time to 70%
with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the other 30% to the company.
Vida staf
Bill Gates and his wife Melinda on June 3, 2009.
In 1985 Gates was named one of the "50 most eligible bachelors" by Good
Housekeeping. He is married to Melinda French from January 1, 1994 and have
three children: Jennifer Katharine (n. 1996), Phoebe Adele (n. 2002) and Rory
John (n. 1999). The family resides at home on the slope of a hill overlooking
Lake Washington in Medina.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Gates noted, in their faith that "moral
systems of religion, I think, are super important. We have raised our children in
a religious way. " In the same interview, Gates said, "I think it makes sense to
believe in God, but exactly what decision in your life do differently because of
it, I do not know."
Bill Gates is vegan. Since 2008, the year he stopped directing Microsoft, he has
participated in several projects to promote this lifestyle. In this sense, with
Peter Thiel (PayPal co-founder) has supported the creation of artificial eggs
based easiest plants to grow. He also said, on a previous occasion, that "the
future of the flesh is vegan ', which is in line with a proposal made to create
transgenic seeds they had meaty.