August 24, 2026, 10:38 am | Read time: 6 minutes
Bill Gates is one of the most well-known figures in the computer industry. He became famous worldwide as a co-founder of Microsoft. For decades, his name was closely associated with the company, which at times made him the richest person in the world. At the same time, Gates has been involved in philanthropy with large sums of money. However, his life path includes not only successes but also numerous discussions and points of criticism.
The Early Years of Bill Gates
Bill Gates was born in Seattle in 1955 and celebrated his 70th birthday in October 2025. He grew up in a financially secure family. His father worked as a lawyer, and his mother was involved in charitable organizations.
In his childhood, Gates was considered rather reserved. According to a family acquaintance who spoke to the U.S. television network PBS, his parents motivated him early on to participate in competitions. Successes were rewarded, while failures were punished.
How the Enthusiasm for Computers Began
Gates attended the Lakeside School, a private school. There, he met Paul Allen, with whom he later founded Microsoft. According to an article in The Washington Post, Gates developed his passion for computers at the school. At times, he had access to a General Electric computer.
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To gain additional computer time, Gates and his friends later exploited errors and weaknesses in systems. This led to a suspension. Subsequently, Gates and friends founded a computer club that took on programming assignments for the school.
His friend Kent Evans also played an important role. However, Evans died in an accident before a joint software project could be completed. Paul Allen then supported Gates in finishing it.
The Path to Founding Microsoft
In 1973, Gates took math and computer science courses at Harvard University. Before that, he scored 1,590 out of 1,600 on the SAT, a standardized U.S. college admission test required by universities for admission and scholarships. During his studies, he met Steve Ballmer, who would later become the CEO of Microsoft.
In 1975, Gates dropped out of college. Together with Paul Allen, he developed software for Altair computers. The trigger was the MITS Altair 8800 with an Intel 8080 processor. Although they initially did not have finished code, they were given the opportunity to demonstrate it at MITS. The demonstration was successful, and Microsoft received its first order.
Microsoft Grows into a Technology Corporation
Later, Gates explained in an interview: “If it hadn’t worked out, I could have always gone back to school. I was officially on leave.”
In the early years, Gates worked intensively on the company’s products. By his own account, he wrote, revised, or reviewed every line of code Microsoft shipped in its first five years.
In 1980, IBM approached Microsoft. In addition to software, IBM also needed an operating system. Microsoft initially licensed a solution from Seattle Computer Products, passed it on to IBM as DOS, and later purchased it outright. In 1981, Gates and Allen became the leading figures of the company.
In 1983, Paul Allen left Microsoft after a medical diagnosis. In his later biography, Allen wrote that Gates had tried to push him out of the company during his illness.
Windows and Antitrust Issues
Windows 1.0 was released in 1985. Ten years later, Windows 95 made the platform significantly more accessible to the masses by hiding the DOS command prompt.
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During this phase, Gates focused primarily on leading the company. At the same time, Microsoft came under scrutiny from U.S. antitrust authorities. The allegations included issues related to the browser market and technical restrictions around operating systems. For example, it was criticized that the Internet Explorer could not be removed and that competitors like Netscape or Java were disadvantaged. In 2001, Microsoft reached an agreement with the authorities and adjusted its business practices.
The Gates Foundation and Its Goals
In 1987, Gates met Melinda French at Microsoft. The couple married in 1994. In 2000, they founded the Gates Foundation.
Bill and Melinda Gates donated more than $60 billion to the foundation. Their main focuses include:
- Combating COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, and polio
- Developing waterless toilets to prevent diseases
- Fighting hunger in Africa and other regions
- Promoting education and equality in the U.S.
- Encouraging other billionaires like Warren Buffett to donate
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Criticism of the Foundation
The foundation’s work has repeatedly sparked discussions.
- Health: According to the LA Times, medical professionals in Africa focused more on diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. As a result, fewer doctors were available for other treatments.
- Agriculture: The Guardian reported that the foundation worked closely with Western companies. Critics see disadvantages for local farmers.
- Modi: The awarding of a prize to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 was criticized by human rights activists and Nobel laureates. A former employee reportedly left the foundation because of this, according to the New York Times.
- Prisons: The foundation invested $2.2 million in a private prison operator in the U.S.
The Years After Microsoft
In 2020, Gates finally left the Microsoft board. A year later, he divorced Melinda Gates.
Even after that, he remained a regular subject of public debate:
- Work environment: There was criticism of his language and his dealings with employees.
- Jeffrey Epstein: After Epstein’s first prison sentence, Gates met him regarding potential investments in the foundation. However, there is no evidence of criminal behavior by Gates.
- Climate: In 2025, Gates said climate change is not an existential threat to humanity. He called it a serious problem but saw investments in poverty alleviation and health as more important. The current U.S. president interpreted this as a victory against the so-called “climate lie.” Gates responded to Trump’s statement by saying it was “a gigantic misinterpretation of the memo” and stated he would even increase his spending on climate and health.
- Facebook ban: According to Yahoo, Gates called the banning of Donald Trump on Facebook an “extreme measure.”
- COVID-19: According to the online magazine Wired, Gates advocated for distributing vaccines through large pharmaceutical companies and with patent protection. Critics see this as a reason for delayed vaccine availability in poorer countries. The Gates Foundation denies this and emphasizes the importance of large production capacities.
Even at 70, Bill Gates remains one of the most well-known figures in the tech world. Despite his withdrawal from the day-to-day operations of Microsoft, the public continues to closely follow his statements and activities.